Mt Franklin Women's Premier League Grand Final Preview
Upsets during the season proper were few and far between. Despite plenty of interest all the way through until the last game, the finishing order ended up pretty much how it looked for most of the year. Somehow, Mitchelton finish the season with a 100% winning result in the league but a 100% losing record in knockout games. Having the second and third placed teams is a rare occasion with the stage for emotion on the day from both teams, and supporters, to come to the fore and elevate the contest to another level. There really is nothing better than a Grand Final, and this has all the makings of a classic. Capalaba waited their time, learned their lessons, then spectacularly headed into this game with an injury time winner from Madelyn Finneran ensuring a week off to plan a second assault on Mitchelton this Sunday. But that isn’t happening, and the match-up against Annerley may force them to re-think a little or, at the very least, give them something to think about. They’ll be favourites in this game, despite the closeness of the contest and possible claims of underdog status, because they have been the better team all year. Both teams have an excellent defensive record but the Bulldogs have scored a lot more goals which ultimately may be the significant statistic if they are to take away the silverware. Annerley are riding high on their magnificent extra time 5-3 win over Mitchelton with any suggestion of under-achievement now consigned to history. It’s largely gone unnoticed up until this point but three Grand Finals in a row is a remarkable achievement in any competition let alone the top flight of football in Brisbane. Momentum, or form at just the right time, is always important on the big day because it goes hand in hand with confidence… the Stars know they can win this game, and Anthony Costa will have them prepared perfectly. Forget their inferior goal difference, the goals are flowing right now and anything less than two more would be a major surprise. It’s the game the neutrals wanted. Two red hot teams who know just what to expect from each other and genuinely believe they are destined to take it out. The last half an hour of normal time could be spectacular.
Prediction: Capalaba 3-2 FROM THE BENCH: Robert Gibson (Capalaba): “This could be our toughest game of the year between two teams who deserve to be there. As Annerley showed last week, they are capable of beating anyone with Anthony Costa sticking to a game plan that works for his team. To succeed we need to go out there and execute our own game plan if we are to win but everything suggests this is going to go down to the wire.” Anthony Costa (Annerley): “"We are thoroughly looking forward to the game on Sunday and have a game plan which the players will give their all to execute. I’m so incredibly proud of these girls…nearly every week we are predicted to lose but countless times we have proven the so-called experts wrong. Make no mistake, this is no fluke for our highly skilled team who put their all into every training session as well as putting their trust in me. Best of luck to Capalaba who are undoubtably favourites but we deserve to be in the Grand Final and will fight until the very end, I promise you.”
