The VFLW Grand Final press conference was held at Ikon Park on Tuesday morning.
Collingwood’s VFLW coach, Penny Cula-Reid and captain, Grace Buchan attended alongside Sean Kavanagh and Mickayla Ward from the Western Bulldogs.
Buchan said it’s a special time to be around the club
“There’s just so much excitement at the club obviously with the AFL men’s being in the finals this weekend and us being in the Grand Final. Just being at the Holden Centre the vibes are incredible."
Cula- Reid commented on the influence of the team’s youngsters
“We see the young talent coming through and it’s just going to get better and better.
“We’ve had Gemma Laigioa, Nic Xenos and Alana Porter come through the Oakleigh Chargers system.
“I’ve been watching their NAB League games to find out what they bring, finding out where their flaws are and then when they come into our system being able to close that gap in terms of what we need them to play. Those kids are just unbelievable.”
Buchan also mentioned the impact of the three Oakleigh Charger players
“With those girls coming into our team pushes us even more and that’s making us work more on our positions that’s building our intensity and every time they go for the ball, they go in hard and they go in with intent and that’s something they you can’t question of them."
Buchan said the Pies’ have shown significant improvements on field since last season
“Unfortunately our finals campaign last year didn’t go to show our efforts throughout the season so the fact that we’ve gone one step further this year already and we’ve stepped it up in terms of our ability, trainings and intent, it’s been really awesome."
Cula-Reid touched on the role of the Pies’ Irish recruit, Aisling Curley
“Curley has had an interrupted season with injuries here and there. When she’s right, the dash and speed that she brings is a credit to her.
“She’s a very determined person and she wants to get drafted and I think that drives her and the group to make sure we can do whatever we can to showcase the skills, the athleticism, finesse, composure in the pressure situations that finals bring and she’s the type of player that can break open a game.”
Buchan talked about the impact of Sharni Layton
“With Sharni Layton, her attitude, her commitment, her drive is infectious. So everyone around her she brings up and she’s such a incredible person, incredible netballer but most importantly a really lovely person off the field.”
“The main thing is she loves the game so she wants to be there, and anyone that wants to be there just lifts us up higher and she’s just such a massive asset not only to Collingwood but to our VFL program, to our AFL program and her development this year has just been unreal.”
Cula-Reid commented on what the Pies’ need to do to combat the Dogs’ use off the ball
“Trying to defend the whole ground not just our back half. We know they (Bulldogs) have a couple of speedsters out the back so it’s just about making sure the ball doesn’t get down there.”
“It’s one of those games where which ever team can play their brand of footy the longest, which team can play four quarters, who doesn’t have lapse of concentration throughout the game.”
Cula-Reid also took time to reflect on her own football journey
“I’ve had to question to myself a few times about the reflection that I get to have about my journey in terms of back when I was 15 and what that all meant.
“I always dreamt of coaching Collingwood, to be the first female coach of Collingwood and to hold a premiership cup - its one of those things you can’t put into words.
“Firstly, I thought it would be a dream to play for Collingwood putting on the black and white stripes wearing the number three out on this deck here (Ikon Park) was my first ever game and now to potentially hold the silverware.”
