Magpies primed for finals pressure in quest to reach Great Southern Women’s Football League grand final

Denmark-Walpole will embark on their first finals campaign in the Great Southern Women’s Football League when they face Royals in tomorrow night’s preliminary final. The Magpies joined the GSWFL in 2020 but the season was cut short due to COVID-19 and prevented finals from being played or a premier crowned. After five wins in the 10-round home and away season, the Magpies finished in third place and will face the second-placed Lions for a spot in next week’s grand final. Magpies captain Amber Jeeves said their team had grown immensely from their first training session and believed the competition was giving a host of women the chance to play football for the first time. “We had a big changeover with our coaching this year, we’ve gone back to basics and it’s worked,” Jeeves said. “Our team has a few soccer players, we range from about 14 or 15 up to 43 years old. “A lot of us have never played before but it has been so good to be a part of it all. “I’m a little addicted to football, probably more than I should be but we love it.” In the final round of the normal season last Friday the Lions finished emphatic 56-point winners over the Magpies. The Lions won the 2019 premiership and have only lost two matches so far this year but the Magpies can take plenty of confidence in handing minor premiers Railways their only defeat of the season thus far in round nine. “We had a bit of a rough week last week,” Jeeves said. “But we have our heads screwed on this week and are ready to give the finals a big shake.” The Tigers will face the same opponent they did in the final round, Albany, for a place in the decider. Both preliminary finals will start at 6.15pm tomorrow with the Tigers hosting the Sharks at Tigerland. The Sharks will be hoping to stop a talented Tigers midfield that includes Maddie Dallimore, Ksharna Coyne and Ella Scamozzi in their bid to reach a maiden grand final. The Tigers were on the losing end of the 2019 decider to the Lions. GSWFL PRELIMINARY FINALS FRIDAY NIGHT Railways v Albany - Tigerland 6.15pm Royals v Denmark-Walpole - Centennial Stadium 6.15pm