Hawks soar into grand final
THE hurt from defeat in the 2017 AFL Cairns Women’s grand final spurred the Manunda Hawks to a huge come-from-behind victory in this season’s preliminary final.
After starting as the favourites in last year’s decider, the Hawks were upset by South Cairns on grand final day, and when the two club’s met on Saturday afternoon for a spot in the 2018 decider, that result was at the front of Manunda’s mind.
The Hawks trailed by fourpoints at the final change at Cazalys Stadium before banging on six unanswered goals in PRELIMINARY FINAL Manunda Hawks 8.4 (52) d South Cairns 4.1 (25) GRAND FINAL Saturday North Cairns v Manunda 10.30am Cazalys Stadium the last term to secure their path to face North Cairns in the big dance.
Hawks playing-coach Kareena White believes her playing group found motivation from their heartbreaking loss in 2017.
“We remembered that they are the ones that beat us in the grand final last year,” White said.
“That gave us a little bit more drive in the last quarter.”
Three final term goals from Lahtiffa Benjamin gave the Hawks the lead before Peggy Lane, Allira Grixti and Lizzy Gowa put the icing on the cake.
“There is a really good vibe in the team at the moment, we will do whatever it takes for each other,” White said.
North Cairns have won all their encounters with the Hawks in 2018 and are the rested side after having the week off in the first week of the finals.