2019 Grand Final rematch produces instant classic

Sunday saw a rematch of the Women’s All Flags 2019 Grand Final between Hale and the Wolves.  Wolves managed to steal the flag with a 1-0 victory but with Hale on a six-game win streak, it was sure to be a fierce matchup.

Hale entered the game currently sitting on top of the ladder after going undefeated since a round one loss, and the Wolves are positioned nicely, sitting at third on the ladder.

Ashlea Fey from the Wolves talked about how they were ready for the match-up and weren’t worried about Hale’s win streak,

“We were focused on parts of their game, we wanted to keep building on our season, working on a lot of positives that we have taken out of previous games.

“That didn’t cross our mind, we were focused on different players and plays they had and were looking to shut that down.”

Even with the two teams having the history of the grand final, and facing each other in the semi’s last year, there wasn’t any tension between the teams.

“I think it’s always a good match up with Hale, in 2019 they beat us convincingly in the first round, we beat them convincingly after then we faced in the grand final…there’s no harsh feelings” Ashlea said.

Newcomer for Hale this year Georgina Morgan spoke on her thoughts of the teams’ backgrounds,

“I don’t think there was any tension, if anything we knew it was going to be a well-matched game, I think there was an excitement around that…we all were really keen for the challenge.”

Going into the game, Hale was ready for the match-up and talked on how they were excited for the challenge that the wolves brought,

“To play the Wolves with full strength, pretty much their whole squad available, it was good to get a win half-way through the season…knowing that if we face them in the finals that we will be ready for them” Georgina spoke the readiness that had.

The game itself was an exciting one indeed, with both teams not backing down once and the game being like a boxing match with both teams going blow for blow with each other.

With the weather being something that looked to impact the game, the heavy rainfall cleared just before the game was about to get underway and both teams were ready for the match.

Wolves looked good to start the game as they got off to an early lead, with Meg Pearce scoring 10 minutes into the first quarter and putting them in the driver’s seat.

This didn’t last for too long as early into the second quarter, Hale responded with a goal of their own with Emily Chalker hitting it in from a penalty corner to tie the game up.

The third quarter saw some big-time blocks from the Wolves to avoid Hale taking the lead, and this was followed up by Jemma Buckley who snagged a goal four minutes into the third quarter.

In motion for how the rest of the game played out, Hale retaliated almost immediately scoring a goal of their own around a minute after the Wolves scored theirs. This time it came from a penalty shot from the league’s leading goal scorer, Georgina Morgan.

With both teams missing big time scoring opportunities late in the third, they went into the final quarter with the score tied 2-2.

With clouds beginning to cover the skies and rain starting to lightly fall, both teams showed no signs of giving up and the game really began in this quarter.

With the final quarter starting off with a massive goal from Fiona Cock, only two minutes into the quarter, it saw Hale take the lead early.

The Wolves didn’t let Hale keep their lead for long as they gave themselves an opportunity to tie it up with a penalty shot and the goal coming from Elly Buckley to square up the contest.

Like the rest of this game, the lead was not held for long, as a minute later Georgina Morgan scores her second penalty of the game for Hale and gives them a 4-3 lead with eight minutes left.

With both teams fighting hard and each going blow for blow on goals, the Wolves were not able to overcome the powerhouse that Hale have become, and Hale manages to increase their win streak to seven games.

With the game being such a slug fest and a hard-fought game, both Georgina and Ashley talked about the toll a game like this takes on the team.

“Because it was so well match, I was proud of our group, a lot of the time we were chasing a goal, and we scored in quite quick succession after their…it was really well matched and could have gone either way” Georgina said on the efforts the team put up.

“It is pretty draining, it was one of the better matchups we had this year, it obviously sucked to lose but it was pretty physical and a good game” Ashlea talking about the playing this type of game.

Speaking on her thoughts of the game Georgina spoke on the matchup and how it was good to secure the win,

“It was a well-matched game in terms of experience and talent, with the Wolves having a huge amount of depth…to get a win was good for us.”

With the success that they have been having, Hale are currently looking like the favourites as they are firmly on top of the ladder, with what expectations that the team has, Georgina spoke about their goals,

“Starting strong has really worked well for us, if we set a standard to start the match and don’t wait to pick up, that has worked well for us.

“We have a lot of young talent and speed in our group and that has worked really well for us…it has been really nice to be on the winning streak and help us build that confidence.”

Georgina herself can be largely credited for a reason for why Hale is playing so well, as she is currently in the lead for the Jackie Pereira Leading Goal-Scorer race, with eleven penalty corner goals after racking up two more this game.

“Our strikers and attackers are great in getting penalty corners, that helps when I get lots of opportunity to score, we have a really solid pushout and trap…I think to get the ball out quickly helps and when we get in a rhythm, it has definitely been helping me” Georgina talking about what has helped her be so successful with scoring.

On the Wolves side, it was a devastating game to lose as they managed to capture the lead so many times and fell just short of grabbing a big win,

“It kind of sucked to lose, we were pretty deflated because we played well, and a couple of mistakes led to their goals…bit of mixed emotions and take away a couple of errors and the score could have been different” Ashlea speaking on the teams’ spirits after the game.

For what could have gone better, Ashlea spoke on how the outcome could have ended differently in the Wolves favour,

“If we don’t give away short corners then Georgina’s not scoring goals there, we had chances that we didn’t capitalise on as well unfortunately.”

With all the history that this game had with the final’s rematches, there was another important mark of the game, with this being Ashlea’s 50^th game for the Wolves, and she spoke on what this experience has been for her,

“I love playing for the Wolves, I have really enjoyed it ever since being drafted and continuing after the program, I have loved it and they are such a great club, and they are so supportive of me.

“I have nothing but positive stuff to say about the club and I’m always enjoying training and playing with them, it’s a great bunch of girls.”

Both clubs are looking good in their finals chances with Hale still sitting in first place after the game and Wolves currently at forth, the two teams will face again of the 21^st of August and it’s sure to be an exciting matchup like they have had in the past.

By FRASER WILLIAMS