EAST Coast Eagles have further cemented their legacy as an AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division dynasty after winning a third consecutive flag over the weekend. The Eagles soared high in a four-quarter performance, overcoming some early missed chances to kick eight goals to four after quarter time to run out 9.9 (63) to 5.2 (32) victors over a gallant Manly Warringah Wolves outfit.

On the biggest stage of them all, the cream rises to the top and that is exactly what happened at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday. The Eagles, who went down to the Wolves just a fortnight ago, found the recipe for success and claimed yet another flag.

The big question mark coming into the game was whether or not Caitlin Reid would play after sustaining an injury last week. Not only did Reid take the field, but she dominated across the field and won the best on ground medal.

Her influence around the ground was constant and she was far too good through the ruck and showed exactly what experience on the big stage can do. Her sustained work allowed her teammates to walk taller, and helped her side get the win.

East Coast Eagles only lead by four points at quarter time but stepped it up in the second quarter to pile on 4.2 to 2.0 and double the Wolves’ score at 36-18. Extending it further with a two goals to one third term, the margin breached more than four goals and they repeated the dose in the final term to ice the result and secure their third straight flag.

While Reid was the dominant player on the ground, she had plenty of support acts with Renee Tomkins cleaning up everything behind the play, all while showing class and poise all day. Tomkins intercepted plenty of forward forays even when Zara Hamilton tried to provide a spark for the Wolves by breaking the lines.

Manly’s Hannah Woolf and East Coast’s Summer Hall nullified each other’s influence in the middle, but it was Jessica Whelan who then stepped up and the Eagles’ midfield depth was what got the reigning back-to-back premiers on top. Whelan’s strength through the core to hold possession at a contest and find an extraction was just excellent.

Up forward, Riley McGarland got off the chain piling on five majors in a performance that in most grand finals would have been best afield. The defence was tight enough on McGartland, but the delivery from midfield was too good and too often.

With her understanding of the ball in flight and able to protect the ball drop with her chest marking, she is able to make life difficult for her opponents. In fact, McGartland could have had a couple more goals on the day, missing two chances she would normally nail, but it mattered little in the big win.

Overall, Manly should get an enormous amount of credit for their end of season, and in the game the Wolves were entertaining to watch, but the Eagles were just slightly too good across the board. Hamilton was a standout, while Kate Salmon tried tried hard and Isabella Rudolph provided a good target up forward to kick two goals.

Captain Ash Carter did all she could in defence with her intercept marking and rebounding, while Kenya Fahey continued her development with a fierce defensive effort. Though they lost, look out for the Wolves next season as they have a young and up-and-coming squad.

For the Eagles though, it was a time of celebration. Ultimately sealing the result over halfway through the third term and were able to keep the Wolves at bay from then on. They had winners across every line and lots of individual players stepped up on the day.

The spine was just too experienced for their younger opponents, while the forwardline functioned perfectly with inside 50s plentiful. Chloe Arndt also had some crucial bursts from stoppages in the second term that set the tone of the day.

At the start of the year the question was whether anybody could challenge the Eagles, and it turned out Manly could. But like any good side dealt a blow, the Eagles responded when it matter most, turning up on the biggest of stages and showed all of their weapons and experience to lift the trophy aloft once again.

MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.2 (32)
EAST COAST EAGLES 1.4 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 9.9 (63)

GOALS:
Manly Warringah: I. Rudolph 2, L. Bourgeois, A. Carter, K. Salmon
East Coast: R. McGartland 5, L. Moran 2, C. Davidson, S. Hall

BEST:
Manly Warringah: Z. Hamilton, A. Carter, K. Salmon, H. Woolf, K. Fahey
East Coast: C. Reid, R. McGartland, J. Whelan, R. Tomkins, C. Arndt