However, McKenna was one of the driving forces to disprove hypothesis when it counted. She was able to lob in the cross during the 72nd minute, with Kerr given the space to tap it in close to the post, bringing the score to 1-1.

Minutes later, in the 86th minute, Kerr caught the assist with Rachel Hill nodding the ball in the left post and bringing the score 2-1.

In focusing more defensively, the middle of the ground was sucked out from underneath Victory and they were stretched. They were thus unable to provide the service that has so often helped their game the rest of the season. 

Victory left it down to the wire, with recent substitute Grace Maher stealing the last minute goal to send the game into extra time at 93rd minute, with 3 minutes of stoppage left.

Going into the final half hour, Perth – and Sam Kerr especially – thriftily exploited the gaps in this defence with aplomb.

Whilst Victory weren't losing energy for lack of trying, extra time affirmed Perth's dominance in terms of work rate and fitness.

Sam Kerr seized the opportunity on the end of a long ball from long-time collaborator Rachel Hill, chipping Mason-Jones as she came off her line seconds into extra time.

Shortly afterward, Victory were reduced to 10 players after a second yellow card was dished to Samantha Johnson.

Kerr brought out her hat-trick backflip – and her first in W-League finals – in the 107th minute assisted once again by McKenna. McKenna seized upon a loose ball in the 18 yard, threaded it through to an unmarked Kerr, and the scoreline became 4-2.

The result will see Perth go through to their second grand final in three years, following their loss to Melbourne City in 2017.