Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Patrick Kearney

Olympic FC Women captain Natalie Tathem concedes her side are entering the unknown this weekend in the PlayStation 4 NPL Women’s Queensland Grand Final.

It’s been a season of firsts for Olympic this year, with the club notching it’s best ever return in the competition and reaching the Finals Series for the first time.

For Tathem, one first will be giving a rousing pre-game address to her teammates, but she doesn’t know as yet precisely what she will say.

“I haven’t really thought about it that much – I usually just come up with it on the spot,” the midfielder admitted.

“For most of the girls in the team it’s their first senior Grand Final and there is going to be nerves, so I think making sure the girls have confidence in themselves and take it to The Gap is important.”

“The Gap has lots of experience in Grand Finals compared to the girls in our team so making sure I encourage the girls to want it as much as The Gap is going to be the main thing.”

While experience may be against them, Olympic do have one key weapon at their disposal – runaway Golden Boot winner Kirsten Jamieson, who has already scored a league-record 59 goals this year.

Tathem said the addition of Jamieson to the team as a major factor in their success this year.

“In the past few years our team has been missing a finisher despite having a good team that could get the ball up there.”

“Adding (Kirsten) to our team has been a really good thing and having the team behind her gives her the opportunity to get those shots off.”

However, it is at the other end of the pitch where Olympic may draw their biggest inspiration after posting five clean sheets in their current six-match unbeaten run.

However, Tathem said while spirits are high within the team it is dangerous to read too much into that return.

“I don’t think clean sheets say that much about the league this season because there are a few weaker teams,” she admitted.

“But you couldn’t ask for anything more heading into the Grand Final than being on a winning streak.”

However, she did point to an improved fitness regime for this season which may prove crucial if the do-or-die clash drags into extra time.

“We have a new conditioning coach this year, who has worked hard with us and getting us fitter than last year.”

“It’s been a big difference because when it comes down to the final minutes of the game we can all tell that we are fitter than last year,” she concluded.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s Queensland 2016 Grand Final

The Gap FC Women v Olympic FC Women
Sunday, September 4 | 5:30PM
Walton Bridge Reserve, Brisbane

Admission – Free

Watch via LIVE STREAM with Facebook Live at fb.com/nplqld