BRIDGENORTH coach Bobby Beams has praised the standard of the NTFAW competition ahead of his side's elimination final match-up against Old Launcestonians.
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After being eliminated at this stage in 2019, Beams' Parrots finished fourth this season, and are set to face the Blues at Invermay Park on Friday night.
"It's such an even competition and I know COVID was a different season last year, but 2019 compared to now is just completely different," he said.
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"The standard has risen dramatically with the demise of the TSLW and the standard of players at all clubs is tremendous.
"To be able to finish in the top five is great for the girls and we've had a terrific season."
After three defeats at the hands of Old Launcestonians last season, the Parrots got the job done in their round-10 match-up.
Reflecting on their past encounter, Blues coach Mark Prior doesn't think his side did too much wrong.
"We were leading at half-time and they got a couple of goals ... so we've just got to turn it around a little bit and put a bit more scoreboard pressure on them so we are sort of running with them and don't let them get out to those two-or-three goal [leads]," he said.
"It's really hard to get back from there in women's football, it's probably worth four or five in men's football."
Taking over the reins from Mathew Murfet and Jesse Denholm this year, Prior believes his side has found form at the right time of the season, having made a late dash for finals after sitting as low as eighth.
While it's do or die for the Parrots and Blues, SCOTTSDALE and Old Scotch get the benefit of a double chance after Saturday's East Coast clash.
Originally scheduled for Sunday at Invermay Park, the match-up joined Saturday's action at St Helens, a ground Magpies coach Cabel Hall described as "similar to Scottsdale".
Hall's side was unable to get the better of the Thistles last time they met, with both him and opposing coach Deb Reynolds acknowledging the need for a four-quarter effort.
"We talk a lot about 100 per cent effort [for] 100 per cent of the time and against these really, really good teams where we are going to be going in probably major underdogs, we just can't afford to have any lapses really," Hall said.
"It's just all about effort for us and I know if we can give that full effort for the full game, we can really challenge."
Old Scotch comes into the contest having ended 2019 premier South Launceston's finals hopes with a competitive win, with Reynolds hoping to play grand final football.
"We've got a wonderful group of girls who have consistently learned the football craft and the game knowledge throughout the season and their want to learn and get better has driven us forward," she said.
"The reward in making the finals is fantastic but we have a really strong mindset that you just don't make finals, so we go into this game and going further into finals if that is the case with a really positive attitude and we'll be there to put our best foot forward."