NTFA women: Parrots keen to erase grand final pain
They lost just one game last season - the game that matters most. Bridgenorth player Jenna Griffiths is confident that experience can help them turn the tables against Old Launcestonians in Saturday’s rematch.
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Bridgenorth key player Jenna Griffiths is confident the pain of being beaten as huge favourites in last year’s grand final can help them exact revenge on Old Launcestonians in Saturday’s NTFA premier division women’s decider at UTAS Stadium.
The Parrots went unbeaten last year before the were toppled by 15 points by the Blues in the game that mattered most.
Bridgenorth went 14-1 for the regular season while Old Launcestonians (9-6) finished second, and are the only side to beat the Parrots this year.
“It (grand final loss) has been a big motivation, and I think having a loss this year probably benefited us in a way,” Griffiths said.
“It’s a good challenge, it’s exciting and we’re just hoping to rise to it and put on a big showcase of women’s footy in Tassie.”
Griffiths said last year’s defeat was a lesson to take every chance to improve.
“I think it’s definitely helped us, we know what we’re going into now and we’re used to it,” she said.
“It’s really important not to get complacent in our footy, and stay consistent. We’ve been working on not taking anything for granted or going in thinking it’s going to be a breeze, because it never is.
“We’ve been working on using the width of the ground and bringing in some game styles we’ve been working on. We feel it will be good for our wings and fast paced girls to really open up the game.”
Old Launcestonians captain Macenzi Lloyd said the team which can hold structure best and use the bigger ground to their advantage will likely prevail.
“We’re up for the challenge. Our team is peaking at the right time and getting our chemistry right,” she said.
“Both teams have some run machines in the mids and on the wing. Bridgenorth like to play a wide game, so we need to combat that.
“We’ve got some really strong mids and wingers who can run all day, and we’ve been able to train on this ground a couple of times.
“Women’s football seems to be very congested so we’re trying to break out of that tradition as much as possible, but as the game goes by fatigue sets in.
“Whoever can hold their structure and space might come out on top.”
The women’s decider is scheduled to start at 10.55am.
Bridgenorth: Monique Dufty, Jenna Griffiths, Alice Robinson (c), Emily Mckinnell, Maddy Whitney, Phoebe Ketchell, Mikaela Stokell, Lucy Cooper, Taja Richardson, Georgia Rigby, Emma Woods, Courtney Grice, Nykahlia Down, Alex Dickenson, Teagan Hodgetts, Gabby Phillips, Grace Walker (c), Maddison Dunn, Hallie Meaburn, Chelsea Bezemer
Old Launcestonians: Marlia Richardson-Green, Sophie Farrow, Hannah Williams, Taylah Lehman, Macenzi Lloyd (c), Carly Farrow, Anastasia Hovington, Jessica Jamieson, Sophie Ranken, Dana Lester, Mia Jarman, Danielle Kelly, Christina Kelly, Ashlea Mawer, Amelia Dowling, Jorjia Fulton, Madeline Brown, Daizi Blundstone, Madeleine Fry, Amber Murphy
Emergencies: Elouise Scott, Isabella Maskell
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