WAGGA Tigers coach Olivia Tilyard is confident the lessons learned from their defeat to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes a fortnight ago will help them push the title favourites when they square off for a grand final berth at Robertson Oval on Saturday.
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The Goannas have won all six of their AFL Riverina Championship matches after finishing the regular season with a 77-13 win at Leeton-Whitton on Saturday.
They disposed of the Tigers 41-25 in round four, but Tilyard feels they will be better prepared after using the match to test out some line-up options.
She said they didn't handle the Goanna's full court defence, particularly early, highlighting an improvement in their composure as crucial.
"They didn't really change it up, but we took the opportunity to find out what worked for us against them and what didn't. We just have to try and take advantage of that now. Tilyard said.
"We just got flustered in the first quarter, we weren't settled and threw away a lot of balls.
"They had strong defence all over the court, so that's where we have to settle it down. It doesn't matter if it takes us 20 passes to get it in.
"If we come out strong and stay that way for the whole game, I don't think there'll be much in it."
The Tigers enjoyed an ideal lead-in to the finals after holding off third-placed Osborne 32-28 at Osborne on Saturday.
Osborne will take on Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in an elimination final at Robertson Oval on Sunday, with the winner to advance to the preliminary final against the loser of MCUE and Tigers.
"They're a pretty strong team all over the court. It was a good game to have coming into finals for sure," Tilyard said.
"With Hugo (The Rock-Yerong Creek recruit Caren Hugo) in the circle now they know how to play with her, the first time we played them they were still working it out."
In the other match of the last round Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong warmed up for their first finals campaign for a few years with a 72-35 victory over Turvey Park.
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