North Adelaide co-captain Leah Tynan and South Adelaide skipper Lauren Buchanan all set for SANFLW grand final battle

South Adelaide captain Lauren Buchanan is looking forward to battling North Adelaide co-captains Leah Tynan and Nadia von Bertouch in the SANFLW grand final this Sunday.

South Adelaide captain Lauren Buchanan (centre) with Roosters co-captains Nadia von Bertouch and Leah Tynan ahead of the SANFLW grand final at Glenelg Oval. Picture: Tom Huntley

• North Adelaide through to SANFLW grand final
• Panthers one win away from back-to-back flags
• Footy dream no longer on ice for North rising star
• Change of scenery helps South star regain form

North Adelaide co-captain Leah Tynan and South Adelaide skipper Lauren Buchanan are preparing for a SANFLW grand final but have gone down very different paths to get there.

Tynan’s Roosters have suffered plenty of heartbreak in a short amount of time.

They lost the competition’s inaugural grand final to Norwood in 2017, before going down again to the Redlegs in last season’s prelim.

Tynan was flooded with relief after the Roosters beat the Redlegs by two-points in this year’s preliminary final at Norwood Oval last Friday, earning them a spot in this Sunday’s grand final.

Panthers captain Lauren Buchanan (centre) with Roosters co-captains Nadia Von Bertouch and Leah Tynan. Picture: Tom Huntley

But she knows the job is not done and beating the Panthers won’t be easy.

“We are looking forward to it, especially after the disappointment of the past two years,” Tynan, 27, says.

“The last two games were super nerve-wrecking and it was such a relief when that siren went.

“We have been working extremely hard and deserve this as much as anyone.

“I’m excited this is a massive honour for me.”

Buchanan is aiming to lead the Panthers to back-to-back flags after they beat Norwood by five points in their inaugural campaign.

South will have fresh legs after earning the bye following a 13-point victory in the semi-final against the Redlegs at Norwood Oval a fortnight ago.

South SANFLW captain Lauren Buchanan in action earlier this season. Picture: Nick Hook

Buchanan has been on the sidelines for the past four weeks after tearing the medial collateral ligament in her knee but the 2014 Bay Sheffield winner is a sneaky chance to return for the big dance.

“It’s not very nice sitting on the sidelines but the team has been going well,” Buchanan, 35, says.

“I’ve got a few tests to go through and I have to make sure the knee will hold up but I’m hoping to play.

“Even though we’ve got young ones, they are rippers on the field.

“They are fast, they go hard at the footy and leave nothing behind.

“I’ll just be telling them to enjoy the moment and try to treat it as a normal game.”

Players with AFLW experience will also add to the intrigue of the grand final.

North boasts former GWS midfielder Brittany Perry, while Crows-listed youngster Nikki Gore, who featured in last year’s title win with South, will take to the field with the Panthers again.

South Adelaide plays North Adelaide in the 2019 SANFLW grand final at Glenelg Oval on Sunday at 4pm.