THEY may be the defending AFL Southern NSW women's premiers, but Charles Sturt University coach Clinton Blake believes newcomers North Wagga have already stamped themselves as the team to beat.
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The unbeaten Bushsows and Saints officially locked in a grand final date with one regular season round remaining with big wins after they kept Narrandera and Riverina scoreless respectively at Gumly Oval on Sunday.
With the top two automatically qualifying for the decider, the clubs will battle for the title in their sole clash of the season.
Kahli Abbott booted six goals in CSU's 10.12 (72) to 0.0 (0) win over Narrandera, while the Saints shut out the Lions 8.8 (56) to 0.0 (0).
"I think we're chasing them at the moment. Not to try and take the light off us but I think we've got a target to try and match up against them, and we're really looking forward to that challenge," Blake said.
"They're a great side. They've got a lot of talented girls like Jordie Barrett, I think she's one of the most dominant players in the competition in the ruck, midfielders likes Ruby and Megan (Porter) and forwards who have been kicking bags."
CSU had a taste of what the Saints players have to offer when they played a combined North Wagga/East Wagga Kooringal team after Riverina Lions forfeited their AFLW curtain raiser last weekend.
While the Saints have hit the ground running in their first campaign, Blake is confident the other new teams will close the gap over time.
"The girls who played in our first year and how raw they were in that time compared to what they've got to now, it's going to take a while for some of those new teams to get that base," he said.
"We're only just starting to get that flow on effect of some younger girls coming in.
"North Wagga are coached well and have some talented girls who have come together well. Hopefully with a full year of playing and training together, the other teams will come back bigger and better next year."
The round's other clash saw the Hawks easily account for Brookdale 4.9 (33) to 1.0 (6).
Hawks coach Ken McPherson rated his team's position of third on the ladder as an over achievement.
"We looked at maybe winning a couple of games, but third would probably be above expectations," he said.
RESULTS
Charles Sturt University 4.2 8.4 10.8 10.12 (72)
Narrandera Eagles 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (0)
Goals: Charles Sturt University - Kahli Abbott 6, Chloe Hinde, Kelsey Hanlon, Shaylee Poole, Emily Clout. Best: Charles Sturt University - Emily Clout, Lily Hogan, Lucy McKelvie Hill, Gabrielle Goldsworthy, Kahli Abbott, Claire Wilson. Narrandera - Jasmine Morrison, Emily Brooke, Lara DeMamiel , Kelly Stockdale, Jacinta Smith, Sigrid McLaughlin.
North Wagga Saints 3.2 6.5 7.6 8.8 (56)
Riverina Lions 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (0)
Goals: North Wagga - Sarah Harmer 2, Skye Davey 2, Olivia Lee Hounsell, Jordan Barrett, Megan Porter, Monique Gardiner. Best: North Wagga - Megan Porter, Jordan Barrett, Sarah Harmer, Ruby Porter, Olivia Lee Hounsell, Nat Creed. Riverina Lions - Lani Watson, Holly Conroy , Mikayla Kapel, Nicky Gunning, Tara Hadfield, Alisha Watkins
East Wagga Kooringal 3.2 3.5 4.7 4.9 (33)
Brookdale Bluebells 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 (6).
Goals: East Wagga - Merrae Argus 2, Keely Bloomfield, Jamila Piercy. Brookdale - Claudia Pertzel. Best: East Wagga Kooringal - Ashlee Fennell, Keely Bloomfield, Ella Finemore, Zahli Meriton, Sophie Crouch, Hannah Finemore. Brookdale - Claire Lane, Sharni Salau, Samantha Creasy, Ruby Hyde, Lyndal Edson, Lucy Taylor.
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