A week before the curtain closes on the 2022 season in WNPL, its two most successful clubs meet for a chance to fight for the Championship against Canberra Olympic.

Canberra Croatia and Belconnen United many times have been in each other’s path to success. Their six consecutive Grand Finals between 2015 and 2020 show however that they are more used to battle it out for the last game of the season.

If they have never met the Blue Devils at this stage, the players coached by Zoran Glavinic are masters in the art of reaching the biggest stage. To reach these six Grand Finals, Grace Gill had to lead her team to six successes (2020 being a semi-final) in the penultimate game of the season, three times against Gungahlin, twice against the Academy.

The experienced striker took matter in her own hands and put her name on the scoresheet four times, in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. She will be eager to keep the streak alive.

Jennifer Bisset is another Deakin player familiar with the bout. Goal scorer in 2016, she was also in the squad in 2015, and her role in the upcoming game cannot be understated. Her midfield pairing with Krista Hagen and Jamie Berkeley has been one of the main strength of Canberra Croatia the last two seasons.

Without Bisset, the midfield suffered against Belconnen in this season’s Round 19. They can’t afford the same first half performance on Saturday.

The ”inexperienced” Blue Devils play their first Preliminary Final, with all intents to get their ticket to the season’s finale. Scott Conlon made it through the Eliminating Finals without some of his young talents, selected for the National Youth Championship, but knows facing the reigning champions is a different ball game.

The success earned in round 19 was the result of a tactical masterclass, a relentless press, an early goal, and a solid defensive effort to ensure the missed opportunities of the first half would not come to haunt them. Belconnen United could have been up by two or three goals at the end of the first act in Deakin.

They would have regretted their offensive waste if Sofia Palywoda had not headed in that Olivia Bomford corner kick 10 minutes before full time.

The Preliminary Final will require the same discipline at one end of the pitch, and better finishing at the other, if the Blue Devils want a shot at rekindling their romance with trophies.

They might have a psychological advantage before the game, but as football reminds us every weekend, anything can happen in 90 minutes (plus extra time). A loss for Talia Backhouse and co. would mean missing their first Grand Final in over 10 years.

Riverside Stadium will be centre stage to a historic duel, often won by the Blue Devils. Will Canberra Croatia keep their impressive run of success in the small final, or will Scott Conlon bring Belconnen back on the biggest stage? One thing is certain, a powerhouse is going down this weekend.

FIXTURES

PRELIMINARY FINAL

Sunday 25 September

Riverside Stadium, 5:30pm

Canberra Croatia v Belconnen United

Words: Jeremy Magan