Charles Sturt University are wary of a talented Griffith Swans but hope a newly-discovered hunger and natural improvement will carry them to back-to-back premierships in the Southern NSW Women's league.
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The Bushpigs, winners of last year's inaugural series, have lost just one game in two short seasons, going down in Griffith. While the Swans coasted into Friday night's grand final with four straight wins.
"They're a young side and, I believe, with a few rugby and touch players. They were pretty quick on the outside so we've got a lot to work on to make sure we can combat that," Bushpigs coach Clinton Blake said.
"I think we learnt what it's like to be on the other side of it and it really gave us a bit of hunger. The last two weeks we've demonstrated how hungry we were to get back on top and we've put in some good performances."
CSU recovered from the loss to enjoy comfortable wins against Snowy Mountains and Brookdale.
Blake says the Bushpigs will back their experience. But it's all relative in a sport reasonably new in terms of options for women to play, and certainly to many of CSU's players.
"We've had a few girls who have played a bit of football now and some higher level football and we've put it on them to be our leaders. They've really stood up and led from the front. Izzy Cleary has been in red hot form, as she was last year, and kicked a few goals again last week.
"Chloe Hinde in the ruck. She's been really good. She's athletic as well and has been able to move around the ground. She's really lifted in just her second year of football, it's been good."
Hinde, 20, took up the sport when CSU put together a women's team just over 12 months ago. With a background in soccer and touch footy, she's loving her role in the ruck and enjoying the challenge of a new sport.
"The team culture was really good, all the girls got around each other, the fitness and skills side of it was really good as well," Hinde said. "All the girls are bringing different skills and different mindsets to the game which is really good. And I've liked having the boys around (at training) giving us some pointers every now and then, it's been good."
The Bushpigs finished second ahead of Riverina Lions on percentage and are up for the Swans challenge.
"We just need to talk a little bit more and have our defensive side a little bit more structured than what it was in the Griffith game," Hinde said.
"And they came out a little bit harder, a little bit quicker, and we were probably just a bit shocked from that.
"But I think all the girls have improved since that Griffith game, so we've got a really good chance."