The Harden Hawkettes will be out to add more silverware to the club’s mantlepiece on Saturday when taking on the Cootamundra Bullettes in the 2023 George Tooke Shield (GTS) League-Tag Grand Final at Crookwell Memorial Oval.

Since the introduction of the GTS women’s competition in 2014, Harden has been a dominant force, winning titles in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022. The Hawkettes also contested Grand Finals in 2014, 2015, and 2017, and if it weren’t for the COVID pandemic, we’d probably be adding 2020 and 2021 titles or Grand Final appearances to that list.

In the perfect preparation, the Hawkettes earned last weekend off while the Bullettes took on the Crookwell She Devils, winning their Preliminary Final 30-nil.

Coach Jason Pollard said his players had been working hard on the training paddock to prepare for Saturday’s decider.

“The feeling is good, and we’re all excited and keen for Saturday,” Pollard said.

“We’ve put in a couple of hard weeks at training, and we’ve done all we can do, and now it’s down to getting the job done on Saturday.”

Pollard said a good mix of experienced heads and young players would represent Harden on Saturday. “Not everyone has played in a Grand Final; there would be three or four players getting ready for their first one,” Pollard said.

Marylouise Minehan

 

“We’ve got quite a different side to what we have had in other years, but I’m sure we’ll handle it. “All the older heads have been there all the way through, and they are experienced and know what needs to be done.”

Despite having played in a myriad of Grand Finals, Pollard expected his side to be understandably nervous. “I’m sure they’ll be nervous; you can’t play in a Grand Final and not be nervous,” Pollard laughed.

“Still, they’ve got that experience, and they’ll harness that nervous excitement and not run their race and overthink it before Saturday.

“As hard as it will be, we’ll just try and treat it as another game, which is a bit more important, and go about it like any other week.”

The Hawkettes and Bullettes were the standout sides in the 2023 GTS League-Tag competition, finishing first and second, respectively, and it’s only fair that they meet each other in the Grand Final.

The two sides have played out some good games, too, with Harden winning 26-20 in Round One while Cootamundra ended the Hawkettes’ winning streak in Round 14, getting up 10-8 in a thrilling contest. They last met in the major semi-final at Crookwell Memorial Oval when Harden fired on all six cylinders to win 36-nil.

Pollard explained that the Hawkettes had been motivated to play a more disciplined game style since going down to the Bullettes.

“It was a good win in the semi-final, but it probably doesn’t count for much come Saturday,” Pollard said.

“If anything, getting beaten by them during the season was a good wake-up call, and the girls have been playing really well since then.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on defence, and we’ve let a few in this season, but since that loss, we’ve gone back to defending well, and we proved that in the semi-final, keeping Coota to zero, and we’ll look to build off that.”

The Hawkettes will be one of two Harden teams playing in Grand Finals on Saturday, with the WorHawks also in action when taking on the Queanbeyan Blues in the 2023 Katrina Fanning Shield Tier 2 Grand Final. Pollard, who’s also President of the club, said he would love nothing more than to see his Hawkettes and the WorHawks bring silverware back home to Harden.

“It would be great to win it again,” Pollard said.

“They have a lot of support, and they’ve built that up over the years, and if we can bring both grades home on Saturday, which I think we have a big chance of doing, it will be great for the club.”

The KFS Shield Grand Final kicks off the day at 11 a.m, while the GTS League-Tag decider commences at 12.50 p.m. Headlining the day will be the GTS men’s Grand Final between Crookwell and Boorowa, which kicks off at 2.30 p.m.

Harden Hawkettes Squad

1. Abbie Grant

2. Marylouise Minehan

3. Clare Smith

4. Georgia Smith

5. Jasmin Chesworth

6. Emma James

7. Kate Menz

8. Olivia Doolan

9. Eliza Butt

10. Hayley Hambrook

11. Georgia Murray

12. Chloe Muggleton

13. Jess Doolan

14. Grace Smith

15. Jessica Oakes

16. Amelia Leitner-Ford

Coach: Jason Pollard.

Trainer: Paul Lewis.

Manager: Maryanne Fitzgerald.