GRAND FINAL PREVIEW AND PREDICTION: Women’s Division Two

Image courtesy of East Coast Eagles media

 

Written by Michael Shillito

Women’s Division Two Final

Macquarie University vs. East Coast Eagles – Sunday, 15 September at 3.40pm at Blacktown ISP Oval 1

After a long season and a marathon finals series, the last game will be played on Sunday 3:40pm at Blacktown International Sportspark. The ressies for the two Women’s Premier Division Grand Finalists will be fighting it out in the Women’s Division Two Grand Finals.

Macquarie Uni have held the advantage all season, going through as clear ladder leaders; winning 14 of their 17 games in the regular season with a percentage of 373.64%. As minor premiers, they enjoyed the first week of the finals off. But they found themselves tested in the Major Semi-Final, and only just hung on against South West Sydney in the Major Semi-Final, winning by a point. But they got the win, and with it came another week off to rest and prepare. They’ll be ready to go.

Jennifer Rowley will be the go-to woman for the Warriors in their quest for a winning score, as she looks to add to her 36 majors for the season to date. Annabel Ferrari will also be looking to drive some goals home, as she has done 18 times this year already; while Charlotte Wayte and Kate Phillips have each contributed 14.

Monique Le Mottee and Katie Johnston have led the way around the ground this season, and have both featured among the Warriors’ best seven times this year. Jennifer Rowley, Kate Phillips and Annabel Ferrari have been listed six times; and the Warriors will be looking for another big game from them.

East Coast finished fourth after the regular season, winning 10 of their 17 games with a percentage of 205.84%; and have had to get through three sudden death games to get to the season decider. But the Eagles hit their best form of the year when it mattered and got the job done. They started with a 36-point win over Wollondilly in the Elimination Final and followed it up in the Minor Semi-Final to hold Sydney Uni goal-less and win by 56 points. They had to work hard in the Preliminary Final to get past South West Sydney, getting up by 10 points.

The Eagles will be looking for Emily Hurley to step up and kick a winning score, to add to her 20 goals so far this season. Amy Stedman and Laura Moran have each contributed 18 goals to the Eagle cause so far this season.

There’s plenty of quality around the ground capable of rising to the occasion for the Eagles. Jade Swabey has been superb all season, being listed among their best players 11 times this season. Laura Moran has appeared 10 times on the list; with Emily Hurley, Niamh Gray and Kate Scholz appearing eight times each. If the Eagles are to get home, they’ll be looking at these players to get plenty of the ball.

The two sides have played off twice so far this season. In round two it was no contest, as the Warriors dominated from start to finish to win by 58 points. Round 15 at Macquarie Uni was closer, but the Warriors did enough to get over the line, winning by seven points.

The Eagles have had a great run through the finals, and they’ll be embracing this challenge. But it’s hard to go past the Warriors, who have been the benchmark team in this division all season. The job isn’t done yet, there’s one more mountain to climb. But the Warriors look to have enough quality in their lineup to bring down the curtain on the 2019 season with a premiership win.

Prediction – Macquarie Uni by 20 points.