AFTER an incredible AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division season, just two teams and one match remain to decide this year’s premiers with the grand final to take place tomorrow. The excitement around the big game is palpable with either of Manly Warringah Wolves or East Coast Eagles capable of taking out the title.

If the spectacle that the two teams put on the last time they met a fortnight is anything to go by, then fans are in for a treat. Despite losing that contest, East Coast still deserve favouritism tomorrow, having won the last two flags and finished on top of the ladder again in 2024. However be wary of the Wolves who are coming hard and have the capacity to get the job done again.

DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS

East Coast Eagles

The form and health after injury of Caitlin Reid will be a key talking point, with the star ruck hobbling from the field last week and there will be question marks over whether or not she can play at 100 per cent, though she has been named in the side. It is a substantial concern for the Eagles who will need to have their their Plans B, C and D ready.

The panicked possessions that Manly forced the Eagles into last time is an area the Eagles have to look into, with the Wolves the number one defensive shutdown of the ball carrier side in the competition. It did highlight East Coast’s number one weakness which is rather than having players who destroy the centre clearances and dominate from there, the new midfield group looks to evade opponents then surge towards a potent forwardline.

Although Summer Hall found the level last week and Brooke Bailey is a very agile and evasive player, it is the one universal weakness in the Eagles’ game. If the Eagles are able to evade the Wolves’ pressure on the ball carrier and get forward, then they will win given the class inside 50.

Manly Warrigah Wolves

They did an exceptional job at nullifying Reid’s impact around the stoppages at every opportunity they got. The Wolves kept the ball in close and never allowed the Eagles to have easy and free space with which to run and surge forward. Hannah Woolf was tough as nails on the inside and the Eagles had to put every effort and focus into stopping the Wolves getting from the inside to the outside.

Zara Hamilton started flowing with confidence and proactive run, especially when breaking the lines so the eventual long ball went over the heads of any intercept marking defenders such as Amelia Martin and Renee Tomkins. That intercept marking is the Eagles’ strength and taking that away goes far in getting the win. The outside link players like Lauren Bourgeois, Lauren Bull and Ava Barraclough got the ball down to Isabella Rudolph to hit the scoreboard and the forward is in some red-hot form.

The Eagles exposed both a strength and a huge weakness of the Wolves, with Manly needing to be ready for both. When the half-back line lead by Ash Carter intercepted long high balls and played on with immediate certainty and proactive speed, it really hurt the Eagles back the other way and gave them no time to set up defensive structures.

However, when their defence was caught too high up the field after a turnover, Caitlin Davidson launched a long bomb over their heads to space or open grass with runners pursuing. That lead to problems for the Wolves and enabled the Eagles to score, so it is an element for Manly to be aware of, particularly with East Coast’s two main goalkickers being long and accurate kicks too.

WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT

Emily Hurley having to spend much more time in the ruck than normal, especially if Reid is hampered. They are two completely different rucks, and it will change the modus operandi of the gameplans for both teams.

Watch for Tomkins to have periods in the middle, while Hamilton is one who could be key for the Wolves and cement herself as a big game player. She clearly has the potential to be the most influential first season player this year and has torn games apart with her inside work.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Rylee McGartland vs. Manly Warringah defence

has not been able to find any space to do any work with the football over the last two finals, with everything being under the tightest of pressure. She has had people whose only role has been to hang off her back and reduce her impact, so any space she finds will give an advantage to the Eagles.

Summer Hall vs. Hannah Woolf

The battle in the centre between the two inside midfielders will be a fascinating clash of two players giving it everything and the clearances to be decided by those around them being more proactive and stepping up on the big stage with them.

Abbey Martin vs. Ash Carter

The battle for control of the half-back line for both teams will be crucial to the overall result, so the player that can do that at the respective end will go a long way to helping their side get over the line.

TIP

If Reid plays and East Coast is able to create more space tomorrow, then the Eagles should be able to get up in a tight one. However the Eagles cannot allow to be pressured like in the previous final the teams played, with Manly looking very daunting for not just 2024 but the seasons to come.