Houghton kicks late decider in Indigenous round thriller to seal hosting rights for Yartapuulti’s maiden final

Jarred Cross Published November 4, 2024 at 3.45am (AWST)

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Houghton kicked the game's final goal to clinch a one-point come-from-behind win over GWS on Sunday afternoon. (Image: Facebook)

Late heroics from Yindjibarndi forward Gemma Houghton has propelled Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) into sixth spot at the end of the AFLW home-and-away season, and sealed hosting rights for the club's first final next week with a one-point win on Sunday.

Houghton held on for a strong mark and booted her first goal to give her side the lead with under 90 seconds remaining in the contest during Indigenous Round.

Yartapuulti claimed the points 7.1 (43) - 6.6 (42) winners.

The 30-year-old swung the ball late from 40 out to send the 4000-plus strong crowd at the club's spiritual home into raptures, and make it six on-the-trot for Yindjibarndi.

GEMMA HOUGHTON IS THE HERO FOR YARTAPUULTI!
A huge mark and finish to give the Power the lead for the first time today ðŸ'ª#AFLWPowerGiants pic.twitter.com/JP5V5M5ATM
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 3, 2024

They'll host Richmond in next week's elimination final.

It had been an otherwise tough day out for Houghton, with the tall unable to hit the scoresheet while the Giants were able to keep their noses in front across their final showing for the year.

Houghton also played a role to put time in Yartapuulti's favour, putting pressure on Cambridge McCormick in a marking contest, bringing the ball to ground and forcing a stoppage on the edge of the home side's forward fifty with 40 seconds remaining.

It might have proved the difference, with a rushed kick out of the centre square falling just wide of GWS forward Zarlie Goldsworthy at the other end of the ground as the siren rang.

"The heart and soul of our footy club is Alberton, and to know that we're we're coming home to play our first final at home next week, I think, if anything, it's for our fans," Yartapuulti senior coach Lauren Arnell said post-match.

Arnell later added "for this to be our third season in the comp, to be playing our home final, our first Final at Alberton, and for our people to show up continually the way that they do, it's really, really special".

"And I'm so pleased that we're able to put that home final on in front of them next week," she said.

Yartapuulti sat 10th with two wins after round 5 before ending their year in fine form stringing together an unbeaten run.

On the scare given by the 16th-placed Giants on the day, Arnell jotted it down as "a nice little kick in the backside" heading into the business end.

Houghton has gone better than a goal-a-game to end the home-and-away season in equal-12th leading goalkicker in the competition with 12.9 in front of the sticks.