A last-quarter goal to Tammika Evans helped see off a charging North Wagga outfit as CSU claimed their third straight premiership, 3.4 (22) to 2.3 (15) in front of a big crowd at Apex Park.

There was little between the two teams throughout the night but it was the third term where the Saints dominated territory but were only able to snare two behinds to close the margin to one-point.

The Saints continued to throw everything at the Bushpigs but the reigning premiers dug deep, and then snared a match-winner just before the final siren to seal the win.

The win kept CSU's perfect Southern NSW AFL women's record in tact, having won all three premierships in the seasons they've contested, while last year's final was cancelled due to COVID-19.

CSU coach Sam Barrow was pleased to survive a close one.

"An unbelievable game, both teams I thought," Barrow said.

"It was very scrappy but the standard was real high. It was a credit to North Wagga, they played an unreal standard of footy as well."

Barrow praised his team's defence.

"I was real happy. Our backline held up real strong," he said.

"Justine (Farley) and Larissa (Guaran) did an awesome job. We really knew from last week they were skilled and a well structured team so we knew what to expect. I was really preaching that pressure at the sauce, pressure at the ball makes their forward line entries a lot harder, which probably only worked half the time, they did get it in there a fair bit but I thought our backs were phenomenal tonight."

The premiership had been a long time coming for CSU, who never got to play off for last year's flag due to COVID-19.

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Barrow said they tried not to focus on last year, and having a new-look team this season helped that.

"Definitely, it was real good. We've had a big bunch of new girls. I think we had about 15 or 16 new girls this year so we had a fair chunk of new players. Throughout the season we did mention it, but we didn't want to talk about it, it wasn't our focus," he said.

CSU's Emma Borlace was named best on ground in the final. Team mate Chase Holland and North Wagga's Ruby Porter shared the Player of the Year title.

FULL-TIME

CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY (22)

1.1 2.3 2.3 3.4

NORTH WAGGA (15)

1.0 2.0 2.2 2.3

Goals: (CSU) E Borlace, M McKinley, T Scott; (North Wagga) S Davey, N Creed.

Best: (CSU) E Borlace, L Guaran, C Holland, G Goldsworthy, J Farley, M McKinley; (North Wagga) S Harmer, K Quade, T Rooke, M Porter, K Leaver, M Hyland.

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