COLLINGWOOD is confident its four-week break from football won't slow it down in the 2021 rebel VFLW Grand Final this weekend.
The Pies last played on July 10 when they defeated Essendon in a semi final to earn a spot in the flag decider. Not long afterwards Victoria was plunged into its fifth lockdown, postponing the season for a second time this year.
Collingwood coach Chloe McMillan said the group had its best training session of the year when they got back together for the first time since lockdown ended last Thursday.
"It's obviously not an ideal lead in for a Grand FinaI, but it’s been a good break and we’ve still been able to connect as a group really well," she said.
"After training on Thursday and a scratch match on Saturday we feel we've replicated the path Geelong has taken. We're pretty confident with that preparation."
Collingwood captain Caitlin Bunker believes the group has kept their connection and their skills up over the enforced break.
"We've still got together on Zoom to meet up and have discussions about the game," Bunker said.
"We've also challenged each other on Strava and gone for kicks with each other in our radius to keep ourselves ready for what’s to come."
Geelong has a much more recent game under its belt having beaten Essendon in the preliminary final last Saturday. Coach Andrew Bruce said it's too early to tell whether it will be an advantage for his side.
"We feel really good having had that game against the Bombers, it was nice and physical and we got a lot out of it," he said.
Cats Captain Breanna Beckley echoed Bruce's sentiments, saying Essendon's "strong physicality" in the preliminary final could be an advantage coming into Sunday.
However, after another COVID-interrupted season the overriding feeling from both sides is one of gratitude they are able to play out the final game of the season at all.
"There's just been so much anticipation leading up to this moment, just so much excitement," Caitlin Bunker said.
"It's a really great opportunity that we get to play out the Grand Final when last year the whole season was cancelled. I think we’re just feeling so grateful to get this chance."
