Eagles Adopt ‘No Surprises’ Mindset for AFLW Final
West Coast coach Daisy Pearce is preparing her team mentally for their first AFLW final, emphasizing the importance of expecting everything and staying focused. The Eagles face their recent rivals Carlton at Ikon Park on Saturday.
Preparation for the Final
During Wednesday’s training, crowd noise was simulated with loudspeakers to help players get used to the atmosphere. Drawing from her premiership experience with Melbourne, Pearce is guiding the team on handling all aspects of finals football.
“We know it’s the first time for a lot of people, so things like a bigger crowd, a national anthem, little nuances that finals bring. We’re talking about them so that there’s no surprises on the day,” Pearce said.
“The main thing is just stick to what got you there and playing the moment.”
Facing a Tough Opposition
The Eagles acknowledge Carlton as a strong opponent, having recently faced them in round 12 where they were defeated by 20 points. Key players for Carlton included midfielders Abbie McKay and Mimi Hill, alongside defender Harriet Cordner, who made 11 intercept possessions, 10 of which were in the first half.
“We’re going to be playing against a very good opposition, who we got a taste of on last Friday night. So there’s going to be moments in the game that challenge us.”
“It’s important to go into the game not hoping that challenges don’t come, or pressure moments don’t come. It’s accepting that they’re going to happen and be ready to sort of negotiate our way through them.”
Season Strategy
Pearce stresses that setting the season up correctly allows the team to maintain consistency rather than making major changes at this stage.
“If you set the season right, you sort of don’t have to change a lot when you get to this point.”
By embracing a steady mindset and preparing for the challenges ahead, the Eagles aim to make their first final a successful experience.
Author’s summary: The West Coast Eagles, led by coach Daisy Pearce, are focusing on a calm, prepared mindset and playing in the moment as they face Carlton in their inaugural AFLW final.