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In Part One of my two-part preview of the biggest event on the women’s football calendar, I focus on some the players and the views of the other coaches throughout the league. Part II will feature a discussion with the two coaches on show, Alen Stajcic and Jeff Hopkins and will be interspersed with commentary by Australian coach Tom Sermanni.
The predictions of the coaches throughout the Westfield W-League has been rather one-sided and they all say that Sydney will win easily. Certainly, Sydney’s form coming into the Grand Final has been exemplary, but the ability of Brisbane to match them has also been shown.
Last weekend Sydney had a relatively easier match than Brisbane to qualify for the Grand Final. They played the weaker Melbourne Victory and eventually ran out 5-1 victors. Brisbane, on the other hand, were tested to the extreme requiring penalties to get past an equally strong Canberra United side.
Despite the scorelines, the two combatants in this encounter are quite evenly matched. Both are brim full of Matildas and nearly all of the players in the two sides have previous Grand Final experience, especially as it is a rematch of last year’s event.
In the matches of Season Three the honours have been shared. In the opening round of the season, Sydney took care of a rather lacklustre Brisbane to the tune of 4-2 at Ballymore Stadium while on New Year’s Day Brisbane came out 1-0 winners in extreme heat conditions at the same venue as for the upcoming final, Campbelltown Stadium.
Most previews discuss the attacking weapons of the two teams, and that has also been the emphasis of all the coaches. Given the potent weapons on show, one may expect a high scoring match.
Certainly Sydney have two proven scorers in Kyah Simon and Leena Khamis (pictured), but then Brisbane are not without their own threats through Tameka Butt, Lana Harch and the ever-dangerous Lisa deVanna, who comes off the bench as a late threat.
Yet, I believe that the game will be won in defence and not in attack and here I favour Brisbane over Sydney. Still, much depends on the health of Brisbane captain Claire Polkinhorne. For Sydney, the loss of Heather Garriock will be significant.
I asked coaches from the teams not in the final who they thought will win, why so and if they thought it would go to extra time, gauging whether they thought Saturday's game would be a close one.
Team: Adelaide United
Coach: Mike Barnett
Prediction: Sydney, no extra-time
Quote: “I think they’ve played the best football of any team all season and I think they’ve got the wood over the Roar.”
Team: Melbourne Victory
Coach: Vicki Linton
Prediction: Sydney, no extra-time
Quote: “Sydney are the form team of the season and have attacking quality across the field. Brisbane have had a difficult month off the pitch with the floods and cyclone, and they've had two byes and two draws leading into the tough Semi Final against Canberra, which they won on penalties. So I think Sydney will get across the line in what should be a great match. “
Team: Newcastle Jets
Coach: Wayne O’Sullivan
Prediction: Sydney, no extra-time
Quote: “Because of Kyah Simon and Kylie Ledbrook”
Team: Perth Glory
Coach: John Gibson
Prediction: Sydney, possible extra-time
Quote: “I think all over the park Sydney have been the benchmark team yet again this season. They are a well organised outfit and have two of the country's best strikers up front that rarely miss their chances in front of goal.“
Click here for Part Two of the Grand Final Preview
Image courtesy: Nick Guoth