Saturday, July 20 2019, is a date that will be etched in South Launceston's history books as one to remember as their women's side took out the inaugural NTFAW premiership.
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An 11-point victory over Scottsdale, who were the only team to conquer the Bulldogs, with a win in the semi-final, sealed South Launceston's success in only their second year in existence.
As their opponents got off to a flying start, Bulldogs coach Adrian Dean said there were some nervous moments on the bench for the former Clarence premiership player.
"We were obviously a little worried throughout the first quarter but thought that if our midfield lifted and could capitalise on the dominance of Jayde Brazendale and Meaghan Volker in the ruck, we were a chance to get back in the game," he said.
NTFAW Grand Final Coverage
"I said before the game that if we could get on top in the midfield and reap the rewards of Jayde and Meaghan, then we are a strong chance to get it.
"We have a strong midfield who played well in Hannah Viney, Kate Child and Chelsea Ryan in particular through the middle. Our back-line was really solid and our forward line presented well."
As celebrations continued to roll on for the victorious Bulldogs unit, Dean said that creating history was one of the side's goals.
"It was really exciting to be a part of creating history for the football club in terms of only two years with a women's team and to win a premiership it's certainly exciting.
"That was one of our goals Saturday night."
Dean thanked his leadership group of Child, Viney, Emily Perkins, Kate Greaves and Abbi Dean for influencing the side's success in the eight-team competition.
In addition to their strong leadership group and footballing skill, the Bulldogs boasted three elite international athletes from other sports within their line-up.
Featuring 2016 Olympic rower Volker, weightlifting representatives Jenna and Charrae Myers and under-21 hockey goalkeeper Alissia Pearson within their ranks, Dean credited the athletes' level of training that was brought to the group.
"They've been an absolute benefit to us in terms of wanting to train and to listen and improve.
"As a results, their training standards were fantastic through the year."
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A member of the 2018 Launceston Tornadoes side that made the SEABL finals, Brazendale is also one of the high-profile sports stars to have made the footballing transition, using her height as a key member of South's line-up in the ruck.
Bulldogs assistant coach and best on ground in the grand final, Child, has assisted Brazendale in the transition.
"Kate's experience in coming from Launceston and captaining them in the TSL premiership was invaluable to us that's for sure," Dean said.
"Her leadership around other girls and the ability to have those on-field leaders was really great.
"We worked hard through the year to teach our girls to play the right way and educate them how to play footy correctly."
Final Scores
South Launceston 5.3 (33) d Scottsdale 3.4 (22)
Best - South: Child, Dean, Volker, C.Myers, Brazendale, Foley. Scottsdale: Slater, Johnston, D. Kelly, Howlett, Dare, Davis.
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