The Gunnedah Poochettes warmed up for the AFL North West NSW women’s grand final with a commanding 14.13.97 to 1.1.7 victory against the Tamworth Kangaroos in last Saturday’s preliminary final at Wolseley Park.

The difference between premiership contenders and pretenders was clear-cut as Gunnedah beat the Tamworth team for the fourth time in as many attempts this year, with margins ranging from 26 to 91 points.

Gunnedah had placed second while the Kangaroos finished fourth on the five-team competition ladder, with the gulf between the two teams evident not only in head-to-head encounters but also the win-loss record in the regular season.

The Poochettes had 10 wins and two losses, compared to three victories and seven defeats for the Kangaroos.

The effort and determination from the Kangaroos could not be faulted, but they were simply outclassed.

Last Saturday’s scoreline was nearly identical to the one from the encounter involving the two teams on Gunnedah soil two weeks earlier, with the hosts winning 14.13.97 to 1.0.6 on that occasion.

On both occasions, the Poochettes kicked four goals and two behinds in the first term.

Amy Clark, Meg Foster, Macey Carlyon and Zoe Palmer landed a major each in the first term, with the fourth goal occurring just before the siren sounded.

Gunnedah led 1.2.8 to 0 when the Kangaroos looked certain to kick a goal, with desperate defence from Leah Schofield forcing a rushed behind.

The Poochettes stretched the score to 7.3.45 to 0.1.1 at half-time following two goals to Chelsea Palmer and one to Laura Ewington.

Ewington’s goal came from a fine angled kick, and another highlight of the second term was a stunning tackle from Beccy Wilson on Isabella Hayton.

Gunnedah’s kicking was wayward in the third term which featured 10 behinds and only four goals, while the Poochettes were set back when Foster sustained a lower leg injury.

Schofield booted the first major of the third term before Zoe Palmer, Carlyon and Wilson found the target.

After the Poochettes led by 77 points at three-quarter time, Chelsea Palmer landed her third major of the day before the Kangaroos kicked their lone goal.

Myah Gibson landed the second-last goal of the game before Ewington scored the final goal with

full-time imminent, meaning there wasn’t quite enough time for the Poochettes to reach the century mark.

In the subsequent men’s match, the Tamworth Swans booked a grand final berth for the fourth successive year with their 15.21.111 to 9.9.63 win against the New England Nomads.

The Swans however have lost the past three deciders, with a loss to New England in 2022 followed by back-to-back defeats against Inverell.

Gunnedah’s Audrey Hannaford tries to escape a tackle against the Tamworth Kangaroos.