PREMIER WOMEN'S GRAND FINAL
Mackay Magpies vs. North Mackay Saints
2:15pm
Harrup Park, Mackay
Saturday 12th September
The Mackay Magpies will be looking to not only win their 24th straight match but will be looking to secure back to back premierships against arch rivals North Mackay.
All signs are pointing towards another Magpies premiership but with the Saints in their first Grand-Final can North Mackay do what Hawthorn did to Geelong in the 2008 AFL Grand-Final and upset the juggernaut that wears black and white.
Two weeks ago in the Qualifying Final, the Magpies blew the Saints of the field with an impressive 64-point victory.
However, the Saints started the match fairly negative and looked to players to do negating roles on key Magpies and those roles did not work at all. The players that were set tasks to tag certain Magpies midfielders did not work at all, as the Saints did not make the Magpies key midfielders accountable at all.
The Magpies kicked four opening term goals and they kept the Saints score-less, North Mackay had to play catch up all after, running out eventual 10.12 (72) to 1.2 (8) victors.
If North Mackay Saints are to defeat the Magpies on the big stage, they have to get their match ups right from the start and no doubt the Saints coaching staff have done their home-work this time round.
Though the Magpies can't go into this match thinking it will be another easy victory.
THE KEY POINTS
1) The Saints need to follow exactly what the Eastern Swans did to the Magpies in Round 18 where the Swans kept the Magpies to just three goals. However, the Swans lacked fire-power up forward and were unable to lock the footy inside their forward fifty. Though North Mackay do have guns up forward in representative player Allyce Marchetti and Jenna Camilleri, both should play up forward to test the Magpies defensive unit.
2) Teams usually get to Grand-Finals and change things up, the message really is simple, keep things exactly the same!
3) North Mackay need to limit the impact of 2015 Premier Women's Best and Fairest Adriana Smith, they did try two weeks ago but had the match up wrong. Smith wasn't made accountable and a more ideal match up would be their number one midfielder Rahnee Vaccaneo, who loves the contested situation and would make Smith more accountable plus would match here for ability and size.
4) Battle of the youth will also be key to the Grand-Final and it will be interesting to see which youth girls are selected by their respective sides. For the Magpies the likes of Teah Mealy, Siouxie Twidale, Elizabeth Burrell and Belinda Ward and their impact will be an important. However the likes of course the previously mentioned Vaccaneo and Lyneeka Malone, Natasha Gardiner, Jessica Wisewould, Hannah Little and Jorden Muscat will need to be key contributors if the Saints are to win the premiership cup.
3 KEY MATCH UPS
Adriana Smith v Rahnee Vaccaneo
This match up hasn't happened just yet, with both players their respective teams number one midfielders and if they go head to head it would be an intense match up. Both players are hard to tackle, love to run and carry, similar size and ability. Though they do differ from one another, Smith is more of an outside player that loves to use her silky and very penetrating left foot. North Mackay's Vaccaneo on the other hand loves the contested footy and is usually at the bottom of the packs feeding the footy to one of her outside runners.
Jaye Willis v Fiona Forrest
The respective sides rucks will play pivotal roles and whichever ruck can give her side the first use will go a long way in deciding the Grand-Final. Willis may not play much game-time in the ruck, with the Magpie key position player would be if statistics were kept, the number one intercept mark across the Premier Women's competition. Her ability to read the play is second to none and Willis may be a wild-card for Coach Thiele with Willis able to be thrown forward and stretch the Saints defensive unit. Forrest on the other hand is quite raw but has fantastic hands and decision making, and doesn't mind been thrown in defence.
Tina Hancock v Miya Scott
This is more of a wishful match up as Saints Coach Jenkins has used Scott in a more offensive role this season but Scott was one of the most damaging players in a defensive role during the Women's representative program's this year with Hancock the number one goal-scorer for the Magpies, she needs to be stopped. Scott is the player that can stop Hancock. For the Magpies their next best goal-kicker is their number one defender Teah Mealy sitting in second on 12 but she will be needed in defense.
HEAD to HEAD in 2015
QF - Mackay Magpies 10.12 (72) def. North Mackay 1.2 (8)
Rd 19 - Mackay Magpies 3.8 (26) def. North Mackay 1.1 (7)
Rd 14 - Mackay Magpies 4.6 (30) def. North Mackay 0.0 (0)
Rd 7 - Mackay Magpies 9.12 (66) def. North Mackay 1.0 (6)
An undefeated run that stretches 23 matches means it has been all Magpies this season but looking closer at each of the matches this year, there is a common trend with the victories. The Magpies have set each of their games up in the first quarter and then slowly taper off as the match wears on.
Magpies average 3 goals per game in the opening quarter, keeping their opponent and in particular North Mackay goal-less. Basically stunning their opponents first up and having to play catch up.
So, does the trend say that the Magpies are overly fit, maybe and that might be a key and something the Saints can use to remind themselves that no matter what the Magpies put on the board they can run down. The Saints have natural runners in their line up and if they can be utilised in the right moments then the Saints can be the stronger finishes.
FINAL SAY.....
It is simple, Saints nullify the Magpies electrifying start and that will go a long way in upsetting the juggernaut. Easier said, then done.
The Magpies have depth on their side and talented depth as well. Mackay.AFLQ.com.au is predicting a close encounter, it is Grand-Final day and many, many undefeated teams have stumbled on the big day.
Click here for the selected teams
Photo by Naomi Johnston: North Mackay ruck Fiona Forrest out leaps Jaye Willis of the Mackay Magpies during their Round 14 encounter.
Last Modified on 14/09/2015 12:15