Charlestown captain Kirstyn Pearce will hope her experience winning titles elsewhere in her career will benefit Azzurri in the NPL Women’s NNSW grand final on Sunday.
Charlestown have had one of its most successful seasons in the NPL Women’s NNSW competition as they finished third, with an eye on winning the championship this weekend.
The Blues have already made history by qualifying for the grand final for the first time and will now look to go a step further and be crowned champions against grand final veterans Newcastle Olympic.
For Pearce, it is not her first time in a grand final, playing a key role in Broadmeadow Magic’s premiership-championship double in 2023.
But it will be the defender's first time leading out a team with the armband on.
“It is my first year at the club, coming from Broadmeadow. Since I have stepped foot at Azzurri, it has been exciting and promising and I think that it is an exciting thing for the club,” Pearce said.
“I am 32 and have not really been a captain before.
“I think I do bring some sort of leadership to the team regardless of the armband but it will be pretty special to lead the girls out this weekend.”
Pearce said that there was a buzz around the club in the women’s space, with Charlestown to feature in four of the five NPL Women’s NNSW and Premier Youth League Girls grand finals on Sunday.
“I think it is exciting and it is something that is going to be an ongoing success for the club,” Pearce said.
“I think looking back at last weekend, we had all of the reserve grade and younger players cheering for us and I think that is what got us over the line in the end.
“It would be massive to win. I think it would be such a good starting point for the club, having four out of five of the grades in the grand final.
“We are really excited. The vibes in the changeroom are just wild.”
Olympic have got the better of Azzurri twice in three tight meetings this season and Pearce expected another close match this weekend. But she believed that Azzurri could use their attacking threats to get the job done.
“I think we are both quite attacking teams and the last time we played them we failed to execute,” Pearce said.
“We just need to take our chances and that’s how the game will be won.”
For Newcastle Olympic, there is an extra fire in the belly to get the job done and lift the champions trophy.
The club has featured in three grand finals but has only been crowned champions once in 2020.
Olympic captain Jemma House has taken the field in each of the three grand finals, including last year when Magic scored in the 90th minute to win the game.
Craig Atkins’ team had another highly successful campaign this year after they finished second on the table and missed out on the premiership on goal difference.
House is determined to settle the score from last year on home territory at Darling Street Oval.
“We are feeling very excited to be in another grand final this year. We will have been in four,” House said.
“We are very excited to make the biggest game of the year again and try and get the result on home turf.
“It is a grand final which is a game that everyone looks forward to in the season.
“I think we definitely have a core group that has that grand final experience which hopefully helps us during the game.
“It would be very nice to get that grand final trophy again. It is about time that we get the chance to do it again.”
The Olympic captain said that the key to success against the Blues would be composure and teamwork.
“I guess it is one of those things to not put too much pressure on yourself,” House said.
“Everyone feels the pressure but you just have to stay positive and get those first couple of touches at the start of the game right then that sets you up for the rest of the match.
“There is a little bit of nerves. I think if you are not nervous then it doesn’t mean as much to you.
“I think we need to be clinical in front of goal and do our individual jobs as well as working as a team.
“Stay clinical, stay positive and work as a team.”
House was proud of her fellow squad for making it to the grand final after a tough year of injuries and sickness.
“We have worked so hard and we have had quite a lot of highs and lows with injuries and players missing and things,” House said.
“It has been one of those years where we have bonded together and got the job done.
“I told the girls how proud I was of them to make it this far.
“We are feeling fresh and ready for the final dance.”
House and Pearce will lead Olympic and Azzurri out in the fight for the championship title at Darling Street Oval at 5pm on Sunday.
Find out all match day information for this weekend’s grand finals HERE.