Nelson Bay coach Lauren Cooper believes they have an edge over their Black Diamond AFL women’s grand final rivals this weekend: The Marlins know what it feels like to lose a decider.
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Nelson Bay meet Newcastle in the championship match at No.1 Sportsground on Saturday in a repeat of last year’s grand final.
The Marlins dropped just one match on their way to capturing the minor premiership in the inaugural women’s season last year.
But they were beaten 4.5 (29) to 1.1 (7) by City in the grand final.
“I find Newcastle are probably stronger bodied and that affected us last year,” Cooper said. “We stopped playing our game and we lost because we were trying to play the same as them which doesn’t work for us.
“They know what it’s like to lose a grand final, so that definitely helps as well, a bit of motivation there to not have that feeling again.”
The Marlins went through the season undefeated this year and booked passage straight into the grand final with a 7.12 (54) to 2.0 (12) semi-final win over Gosford.
City joined them after a 100-point annihilation of Gosford in the preliminary final last Saturday.
Cooper, who did not play this year due to a knee injury, said Nelson Bay has bolstered their squad this year and was encouraged by their consistently strong form through the season.
They have beaten City both times they have met, winning 4.7 (31) to 3.1 (19) in round one and 6.5 (41) to 2.5 (17) in round 12.
“We have quite a few of what I would call natural athletes, so that has definitely helped us,” Cooper said.
“Our numbers are at least 10 more than last year too and that’s given us a bit more room for movement because by the time we got to the grand final last year we only had 18 or 19 on the day.”
Cooper, who was sidelined this year through injury, rated their semi-final win over second-placed Gosford as “one of the best team games we’ve played”.
“It was everyone, not just the same players each week, which was good,” she said.
City sent a clear message that they intended to defend their championship crown when they easily disposed of Gosford 16.11 (107) to 1.1 (7) last weekend.
The Blues started strongly and already held a 45-point advantage at the first break.
City coach John Parker was hoping the saying “you’re only as good as your last game” rang true this weekend and was expecting a tight tussle with the Marlins, who he said were “built for outside speed”.
The grand final is at 4pm.
