Local derby decides Women’s Premiership
It's Bathurst vs Bathurst in the Women's Grand Final. Will the Bushrangers win premiership #4 in five seasons or will the Giants win their first flag in season #2?
Grand Final day has arrived and for the Bathurst Giants and Bathurst Bushrangers, one game remains for the 2019 season. Fittingly, the two sides that played in last-year’s preliminary final face-off in this season’s decider following the 2018 premier’s withdrawal. 2019 has been a successful campaign for the Bathurst Giants who have thrived with an extra season under their belts. Meanwhile, just down Browning St, the Bathurst Bushrangers have rebuilt a side missing many of their 2018 team. A 12-goal Round 1 defeat, has led to significant improvement for the team in teal who go into today’s match not as favourites, but certainly buoyed with confidence.
Bathurst GIANTS:
2018 Finish:
Runner’s-up
2019 H&A season:
Minor Premiers (P12, W10, D1, L0, NR1)
Players to watch:
Danita Lane has been a Bathurst Giant standout in 2019 booting 25 goals, more than double her next best teammate. Kaitlyn Kennedy is the most experienced Giant and has led the team to consecutive Grand Final appearances. Tamara Thompson had a fantastic first season with the midfielder selected alongside six Giants teammates in the representative side. Molly Mann and Matilda Flood are two highly-touted young players. Flood is one year graduated from the Youth Girls competition whilst Mann has been a regular in both the junior and senior Giants sides.
Bathurst Bushrangers:
2018 Finish:
Preliminary finalist
2019 H&A season:
2nd (P12, W7, D1, L3, NR1)
Players to Watch:
The Bushrangers have an equally potent offence with Alora Dickson (21 goals), captain Amelia Wright (11) and Sonia Lang (10) hitting the scoreboard most weeks. Bethanie Durham has been one of the Bushrangers best all season, and is relied on to play all positions on the ground. Elise Hull and Abbey Hardie are the only two Bushrangers to have played in every season of the Women’s competition. Their experience will be valuable if the Bushrangers are to pull-off an upset.
Final thoughts;
Finishing the Home and Away season unbeaten sends the Bathurst Giants in as hot favourites to take home the premiership in their second season. Their opponents have been competitive in three matches but haven’t held onto half-time advantages. The Bushrangers have conceded half-time leads in two of these encounters which will boost their hopes of challenging early and with very-little expectation as underdogs, should the Bushrangers get in a similar position, they could force errors from the Giants. After four-quarters, either the Giants will have their maiden senior premiership, or the Bushrangers will have female flag #4. Either way, the Women’s premiership will remain in Bathurst.
The Senior Women’s match between Bathurst Giants and Bathurst Bushrangers begins at 12:30pm at George Park #2, Bathurst. Entry to the field is $5 for adults.
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