THIRD STRAIGHT DECIDER FOR TOP WOMEN’S CLUBS
THE rivalry between Edge Hill United and Leichhardt hits a new high when the clubs meet in a third straight FNQ Women’s Premier League grand final on Saturday.
The clubs boast arguably the best senior women’s football programs in the Far North, as shown by their dominance of the competitions in the past decade, but they have shared silverware in the past three years.
In 2019, Leichhardt won the league before the Tigers produced a 6-1 win in the grand final.
Last year, the teams were undefeated in the regular season as Edge Hill won the league and Leichhardt earned a 2-1 grand final win. The Tigers also won the Crad Evans.
Edge Hill dominated this season, going through another campaign without defeat and with its eyes set firmly on winning the treble.
Tigers captain Siobhan Macken had a chance to jag an equaliser in the dying moments of the 2020 grand final but was stopped by Lions defender Alicia Lazarus, and she said that result was a painful memory.
But it could be one that lifts this epic clash between two supremely talented sides to a new height, with that growing “fiery” rivalry adding another dimension to the contest.
“We’re certainly keen for the treble,” Macken said.
“Lastyear...it’sapainfulmemory. The girls are going to be keen to get out there and right that one.
“Even after the undefeated season last year it showed anything can happen in finals.
“As long as we know our girls have given 100 per cent for their teammates, that’s all you can do really.
“It’s fiery, and has become more so over the past few years, but we try to stick to our game plan and not get involved in the politics.
“It’s all about the scoreboard.” Leichhardt captain Helen Cross said the exciting rivalry had come from both clubs’ simple desire to be the best in the Far North.
“We both are very competitive, and I’m not saying other clubs aren’t but we have the desire to be the best; to win at all costs,” Cross said.
“Edge Hill this year are good at completing that, and we need to step it up. We have had the chances throughout the year, but we need to be more ourselves, attack when we have the chance, and put them away when we have those chances.”
Cross has been to plenty of grand finals throughout her playing career, and will play a crucial role alongside Lazarus in the defensive unit.
“For those of us who were there, it’s a nice dream for us, but for the young ones we just have to get them keen and ready for the day,” she said.
“It’s a lot of positives, talk to them, make them believe in themselves and train hard – and take it into the game.”
Edge Hill dominated the league clashes between the teams this year, winning all four regular season fixtures then claiming a 7-2 win in the qualifying final.
But Leichhardt defeated the Tigers in the Kappa Women’s Super Cup, played during FNQ’s pre-season, and Cross said that proved the red and blacks can do it.
“We know we have it in us, it’s just a matter of if we can do it on the day,” Cross said. “Everyone believes we can. Our coaches and our support, we just have to get out there and pull it together on the day.”