Grand Final Preview: Women

By James Woite.

 

The brief

The unbeaten Norwood Flames (23-0) will play reigning premiers the North Adelaide Rockets (18-7) in the 2015 Premier League women’s Grand Final. The last time the Rockets beat the Flames in a Grand Final was in 1998. The Flames are 4-1 all-time in Grand Finals against the Rockets, having won the last four. The Rockets are chasing their first consecutive titles since they won four straight Premierships from 1988-91.

The story so far

The Flames won their fourth consecutive Minor Premiership by a long way, finishing undefeated for the second time in three years. Unlike last season, where they lost at home in both the Second Semi and Preliminary Finals, the Flames’ strong form has carried through to the postseason. They beat the Rockets a fortnight ago to advance straight through to the Grand Final.

A top three finish was never in doubt for the Rockets, and they ended up with the second seed. For the second year in a row, they will play finals in four consecutive weeks, although their path to the season’s final day has been slightly different this time. Their win over South Adelaide in the Qualifying Final enabled them two shots at going through to the Grand Final. They blew their first chance against the Flames, but made up for it by beating South Adelaide again last week.

The series summary

On April 25, the Rockets led the Flames by five points at half-time. The Flames came back strongly in the second half, outscoring the Rockets 36-21, and winning 66-56.

Three months later, it was the Flames who got off to a strong start. They grew their advantage with a 34-19 third quarter, before holding out for a 78-58 win.

In the Second Semi Final, the Flames piled on 19 points to six in the fourth quarter, running out 68-48 winners. The Rockets trailed by just seven points at ¾ time.

The series scoring leaders

            Jessica Foley, Norwood: 14.7 ppg

            Marisa Stabile, Norwood: 12.3 ppg

            Jo Hill*, North: 12 ppg

            Taylor Ortlepp, Norwood: 11 ppg

The series rebounding leaders

            Jamie-Lee Peris, North: 12.3 rpg

            Rebecca Duke, Norwood: 8 rpg

Jo Hill*, North: 8 rpg

            Jessica Foley, Norwood: 7.7 rpg

            *Hill missed the April 25 meeting

The why Norwood will win/North will lose

The Flames have been the best team all year. They have not been in any major danger of losing any of their games, and are a much more versatile side. A Rockets win would go against everything that has happened this season.

The why the Rockets will win/Flames will lose

When these teams last playing in an Elimination game, it was the Rockets who upset the Flames, and history has a tendency to repeat. The longer the Rockets remain in the game, the more confident they will get, and the more the nervous the Flames get.

The have you ever seen Norwood win the league?

The Flames’ last Premiership was in 2013, when they defeated the Rockets 71-52. It was the second time in as many seasons the Flames had beaten the Rockets in the Grand Final. This is the Flames’ fifth Grand Final in nine years, having gone down in the 2011 and 2007 Grand Finals.

The have you ever seen North win the league?

The Rockets’ last Premiership was in 2014, when they defeated Sturt 73-70. That victory ended a run of four consecutive losing Grand Finals (2013, 2012, 2008 and 2005). This is the Rockets’ seventh Grand Final appearance in 12 seasons – they also beat Forestville in 2004.

The omen(?)

Two years ago, when the Flames went undefeated through the regular season, they beat the Rockets in the Grand Final. It is the only time in the last seven seasons that the “home” side has won the Grand Final.




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