In a rematch of last season's finale, Waratah and Southern Districts will once again meet in the 2019/20 TIO NTFL Women’s Premier League Grand Final on Saturday at TIO Stadium.
The imposing Warriors have unquestionably been the most successful team in the history of the competition, winning seven of the past eight premierships.
Waratah were able to keep Districts goalless in last season’s rematch to claim the flag and the side’s experience will see them go into this match believing they can once again get the job done.
Lisa Roberts and Lauren O’Shea led this side with conviction and set the example through action, with Roberts in particular providing to be a dominant force this season. Both leaders have also demonstrated an ability to hit the scoreboard, with O’Shea kicking 23 majors and Roberts 20 so far in 2019/20.
Rebecca Pryer, Claudia Fabris and Isabella Rapson Staropoli are others who have performed consistently throughout the season for the Warriors, while Amy Chittick has shown some promising signs throughout this finals campaign.
But they run into a Southern Districts side that is full of confidence and has the belief they can reverse last season’s result.
The Crocs have looked the better throughout the finals and ran over the top of Tahs in their first final two weeks ago. Districts would have taken a lot of out of that performance and they have a side capable of ending the Waratah era of dominance.
Ebony Miller is not only the best forward in the competition, but she was best-on-gound in the Crocs’ gutsy win over Buffettes last week. Miller is a goal-scoring colossus and has nailed 61 majors so far this season, well ahead of any other player in the competition.
Waratah will need to shut her down if they are to be successful.
Grace Mulvahil has performed brilliantly throughout the finals series and is another threat, while Tahlia Holtze and dual captains Lateesha Jeffrey and Meghan Crawford are both enjoying excellent seasons.
Throw in the talents of Bella Clarke, Malory Nankervis and Mickaela Dershow and the Crocs deserve to go into this match as slight favourites.
It should be a fascinating contest which will be hard to pick, with the result capable of going either way.
