EAST Coast Eagles and UTS Bats will contest the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division Grand Final tomorrow to etch one of their names in history. The reigning premier Eagles up against the newcomer Bats is a battle of the two sides who have been dominant all year, not only finishing top two on the ladder, but in all the major stats, as well as points scored, and least points conceded.

EAST COAST EAGLES vs. UTS BATS
Saturday, September 9 @ Blacktown International Sportspark, 2pm

UTS Bats gets another crack at East Coast Eagles after the big riser went down to the reigning premiers in the semi-finals. It looks to be a cracking game set to take place tomorrow at a well respected venue,

These two teams play deep, fostering a whole team style of play, and thus everywhere the ball goes on the field, there will be a really contested exchange. Winning one-on-one contests will be the first place the game is won or lost, and the team hat proactively breaks free of it, will gain the upper hand.

Secondly, and most importantly, is being able to link up in transition, with the Bats not only required to win the individual battles, but hit target after target down the field. East Coast is the benchmark in stopping forward forays, with half-back duo Abbey Martin and Renee Tomkins among the best in the league at doing so.

While UTS created open space running goals to jump Macquarie University in the preliminary final last week, the Bats will find the going much tougher against the Eagles. The question will be whether or not they learnt enough from the semi-final loss to kick a winning score.

East Coast Eagles must not rely solely on the defensive wall, but also make sure they win it at the coalface. Then, the Eagles will need to try and push back the Bats attack and force them to hit repeat disposals in a possession chain to goal, while doing just that themselves.

UTS Bats must try to open up their forwardline where the Bats’ forwards can run onto the football and have space to convert goals. Around the stoppages, providing constant and relentless pressure is a must, forcing turnovers from the less experienced players, then burst running when in possession.

The Bats will need to go over the defensive wall or clunk vital contested marks within goalkicking range, with the Eagles’ defensive setups too strong to allow a winning score off scrappy play. They could also take advantage through the ruck to tap the ball long to open space for a runner, while also putting the Eagles on the back foot with burst running.

East Coast may well force the Bats to kick long to contests, which is what the Eagles’ intercept markers want. The Bats can tend to concede contested marks in defence and will need to ensure the Eagles cannot have easy set shots at ground.

KEY MATCH UPS

Danika Spamer (UTS) vs. Caitlin Reid (East Coast)

The clash will be a contrast in styles with Reid known for her tap and clearance work to get the ball free of congestion, while Spamer is more than happy to provide defensive tackling, or when winning it from the stoppages, burst away to get it forward.

Imogen Brown & Jessica Quade (UTS) vs. East Coast defence

UTS Bats’ key scorers could cause a headache for the Eagles, though they only kicked two in the semi-final between them – Quade kicked both – though Brown impressed in the preliminary final.

Eloise Carey & Hannah Cerezo (UTS) vs. Jess Whelan (East Coast)

Whichever player can win the ball and get to the front of the stoppages to get it down the ground fastest will give their team a huge advantage.

PREDICTION

The bigger ground at Blacktown plays very long and full field linkages are very rare, so expect a lot of footy between the arcs and thus around 2-3 goals per quarter. Though UTS Bats finished the season as minor premiers, the East Coast Eagles’ win over them in the semi-final gives the reigning premiers the momentum and form to get it done again.