The Gunnedah Poochettes are ready to host the Tamworth Kangaroos in this Saturday’s AFL North West NSW women’s preliminary final at Wolseley Park, with a grand final spot beckoning.

Inverell sealed grand final hosting rights with its 5.6.36 to 3.2.20 win against Gunnedah at the Inverell-based Varley Oval last Saturday, while the Kangaroos pipped the Tamworth Swans 6.7.43 to 6.3.39.

A golden chance for Gunnedah to host the decider went begging, after the Poochettes led narrowly at three-quarter time and then faltered in the final term.

The Poochettes sustained a big setback along the way, with Abbey Ruttley suffering torn ankle ligaments.

Both teams landed a goal and a behind in the first quarter, before Inverell led 2.4.16 to 1.2.8 at half-time.

The home side’s only score in the third term was a behind, while two majors to the visitors gave them a three-point lead.

Inverell landed three majors and one behind in the final term while Gunnedah was kept scoreless, despite moving the ball deep into the forward line a couple of times.

Laura Ewington booted two of Gunnedah’s goals, and Amy Clark kicked the other while five Inverell players landed a major each.

Poochettes coach John Woolaston later said it felt like the Poochettes lost the game more than the Saints won it.

“We actually didn’t stick to some of our game plans,” he said.

Woolaston said his team put in “an unreal effort” but that “it was our actions that lost the game”, allowing Inverell to gain momentum in the final term.

With Ruttley’s injury hampering the Poochettes, Woolaston said it took a bit of time for the team to restructure.

“By the time we sort of got that sorted, Inverell had gained momentum and were just everywhere…that impacted the scoreboard,” he said.

“They (the Saints) really got the motivation. Once they kicked that goal, they had that little lift and they all just got around each other and kept working with each other.

“We did sort of struggle in patches to actually link up and provide that ball movement.

“Inverell’s strength was they got over the top of us.”

Woolaston said the Poochettes needed to work on moving the ball from their backline and into their forward 50, and enabling the midfielders to have a little rest.

“(We need to) just reset, (and) work on those few things at training this week, and take them into the game on the weekend, and make sure we’re working to our game plan,” he said.

Once the match is finished, the men’s clash involving the Swans and New England Nomads will decide who contests Inverell in the men’s grand final.