Destiny’s southern call awaits girls

By Teo Pellizzeri

September 18 2009

Shepparton News

Shepparton South's women have the chance to create history on Sunday as they aim at a first Goulburn North East Football Association premiership in the grand final against Shepparton United.

South coach Ralph Giuliani has backed his team to go the distance against the three-time defending premier after advancing to the season decider with a physically taxing win in the preliminary final.

The Blues have had the better of recent meetings with South and with a host of premiership players in their ranks have the edge in experience.

But Giuliani believes his team is still a 50-50 chance and full of energy for one last tilt at the title.

"I thought last week our forward structure worked well," Giuliani said.

"Fitness is not a big concern for us. We've got our set rotations off the bench and came up okay after playing on a heavy ground last week."

United advanced directly to the grand final after beating South 1-0 in extra-time of the qualifying final, a match with a dire first half that offered limited chances at both ends.

"I think we'll do what we did last week against Tatura," Giuliani said.

"Our plan was to attack the game and this weekend that's what we'll do. We won't wait for the game to settle, we'll be on the front foot."

United coach George Traianidis also felt the game was evenly poised, with factors like taking chances and making the fewest mistakes to decide the contest.

The Blues' Holly Dimstas and Danielle Zeqir have both played in the three-peat, while seven players have at least one premiership from the past three seasons.

"I think we've got a completely different team to previous years, but there are a few experienced players and that should help," Traianidis said.

"When I jumped on board we were hoping to make the finals and we ended up first, things have gone our way."