While most would think it’s a shot at redemption, Albury City coach Robert Brown continues to play down the hype around his side heading into another senior women’s cup final on Sunday.
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The two-time unbeaten league champions fell 1-0 to Boomers in the 2017 decider, which hasn’t been mentioned ahead of this year’s clash with Wangaratta.
“I think the only people that are really worried about how we’re going to feel about losing this weekend are probably people other than ourselves to be honest,” Brown said.
“Haley (captain Haley Morris) made the comment it would be nice to win it and it would.
“We set ourselves for the league … the league is the thing, that’s why you have a league champion.
“If you have a bit of luck in the finals, you can win a cup.
“We’re looking forward to the weekend, but it’s not a big deal.
“We’ve got two pieces of silverware (Iannotta Cup and league championship) already this year and four pieces of silverware over the last four years.
“There would be an awful lot of clubs in Albury-Wodonga that would die for that sort of record.
“I think they’ll obviously be better for it (last year’s cup final), but there were reasons for last year, pre-game and during the game, and those mistakes won’t happen this year.”
Wangaratta trio Christina Mancuso, Bianca Mulqueen and Leanne Branson all finished in the top-four of Wednesday night’s Star Player award, behind winner Bridget McDiarmid, of Albury City, but Brown knows they’re not the only ones to watch.
Red Devils’ coach Tom Marshall admitted his side is much less nervous than last week where they edged past Albury United 2-1 in the dying stages.
“We’ve got closer to Albury City as we’ve gone on, from the six meetings, including pre-season, we’ve learnt a great deal about them as a team,” Marshall said.
“There’s a lot of talk about Bridget (McDiarmid), but they’re a very good team across the board and I think we’ve got a fair idea of a plan to deal with that.
“It puts the pressure on them, this is the golden chalice they want and we’re under no pressure.
“We want it as well and we’re going to make it very hard for them to turn us over.
“It would be absolute reward for all the hard work of the committee, the coaches and the whole ladies game at Wangaratta, it would mean everything.”
Both coaches have backed the association’s decision to play the senior women’s final immediately before the senior men’s decider.
Kick-off is at 12.50pm.
2018 AWFA CUP FINALS SCHEDULE
Under 11: Hotspurs v Cobram - 8.30pm
Under 11 girls: Hotspurs v Wangaratta - 9.50am
Under 12: Cobram v Myrtleford - 9.45am
Under 13: Melrose v Albury City - 11.10am
Under 13 girls: Hotspurs v Diamonds - 12.30pm
Under 14: Albury City v Hotspurs - 12.30pm
Under 16: Cobram v Albury City - 8.30am
Under 16 girls: Albury United v Hotspurs - 11am
Division 3 men: Albury United v Diamonds - 9.30am
Over 35s: Twin City v Albury United - 11.30am
Reserve women: Albury United v Wangaratta - 9am
Reserve men: Diamonds v Albury City - 11am
Senior women: Albury City v Wangaratta - 12.50pm
Senior men: Myrtleford v Boomers - 3pm