AFLW veteran Tahlia Randall’s painful admission on grand final record ahead of North Melbourne
Tahlia Randall has played in three AFLW grand finals across two clubs — and lost all of them.
The key forward suffered two defeats at Brisbane in 2017 and 2018, then played in North Melbourne’s grand final loss to the Lions last year.
But Randall is determined to ensure Saturday’s decider, also against the Lions at Ikon Park, falls in her favour.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Being undefeated doesn’t matter if you don’t win the grand final,” Randall told AAP.
“It’s definitely not fun losing a grand final. So hopefully that streak is done and we can start our winning streak.”
Randall joked after the Kangaroos’ win over Port Adelaide that facing Brisbane again would “make a good headline”.
It will.
North had last year’s grand final in their grasp at one point before the Lions wrested it into their control and ran away with it for a 17-point win.
There is one key lesson Randall learned from last year’s capitulation.
“The game’s never done until the final siren,” she said.
“I know that sounds very cliche, but yeah, we gave up the lead last year in that final, and we didn’t make the most of our momentum.”
If the Kangaroos are to succeed, they will need aerial specialist Randall, who has kicked 15 goals this season, at her absolute best.
Since moving into the attack, she has established herself as one of the league’s best pack-crashing power forwards.
“It sounds weird that I’m a veteran and I’m only 26 years old playing for Brissie and North,” she said.
“But yeah, absolutely, I’ve learned a lot at both clubs, and I’m looking forward to the final next week.”
Randall, Kate Shierlaw (18 goals), Vikki Wall (10) and Alice O’Loughlin (16) all regularly hit the scoreboard, as does star midfielder Jasmine Garner (14).
“It’s so fantastic. We have so many avenues to go, whether it’s through our forwards, whether it’s through our mids or even our wings,” she said.
“We’re a dangerous forward line when we play the way we want to, and hopefully we can showcase that next weekend.”
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
