There is plenty of optimism in the air at Lakeside ahead of the NPLW Grand Final this Saturday night, despite heading into the clash as underdogs.
South defeated Boroondara Eagles in the NPLW Semi-Finals 2-1, sending the side to the final game of the season for the first time since 2018.
In the lead-up to the big game, Head Coach George Georgiadis said his team deserved their spot in the final, on the back of an ultra-consistent season.
“At the start of the year we thought anything could happen, but the girls certainly deserve the spot they are in,” he explained.
“The opportunity to be there to make it to the last game of the season after we finished in the top four and our girls grabbed the chance with both hands.
“They have been outstanding all season. I feel as if we have put it all together over the last two or three weeks and we have a full group to pick from, so depth-wise we are in a good spot. “
Midfielder Francesca Iermano put South up in the 25th minute of their Semi-Final against Boroondara, however a late first-half goal set up a nail-biting second-half.
New Zealand winger Tayla Christensen would end up being the hero for the storied club, scoring in the 61st minute to send her side to the Grand Final.
“We started off really well, we pressed like we have all year and created goal-scoring opportunities,” Georgiadis recalled.
“Defensively we were outstanding, the back four stayed strong with the likes of Kurea Okino and Margot Robinne, who are very potent in the forward third.
“Scoring a goal was great in the first half with a couple of limited, it was always going to be fine line margins. They were set up in a diamond shape, but we were really happy with our width.
“After they equalised, they started to get a bit of ascendancy, but we were able to control those important moments just before halftime and made a couple of structural changes and then I think the girls were outstanding in the second half and had a lot more possession based on keeping control and our press.
“I think it was a great finish from Tayla in the end, anticipating and understanding the right moment. I was happy with how we handled the big moments, but I am more impressed with how the girls had that will and to play in this Grand Final.”
Bullen has plenty of star power across the pitch, but Georgiadis was confident his side would match up well with the Lions.
“If you look at their front with Alana Jancevski and Maja Markovski and even Beattie Goad, structurally setting up against a side with that many quality players without giving a lot away – it starts with our front three,” he said.
“One on one I think we will be able to match it with those players, We are the second-best defensive side in the league (behind Bulleen), and I trust in our girls to get the job done.”
South Melbourne was defeated by Bulleen 3-1 in Round 4, but South Melbourne will take plenty of confidence away from their 1-1 draw in Round 15 when they secured a point against the ladder leaders.
“When we drew with them earlier in the season, we did really well against their front three, I am very comfortable with how we have gone about it,” he said.
“We are expecting them to be stocked up as we know they had a couple of injuries so it was a really good effort to get to the final, but they should be right to go.
"You can look at previous games, but in reality finals football is a completely different ball game, there is a different mindset.
"Teams are very aware that we have a style of play that we are really proud of, finals football is very tactical so I am looking forward to the challenge, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”