GSFLW fairest and best winners Taylah Orzel and Laura Cinanni ready to fire for Claremont in WAFLW finale

A pair of former Great Southern Football League Women’s fairest and best winners are ready to rumble in Claremont’s tilt for a 2024 WAFLW premiership. The Tigers will lock horns with East Fremantle in the grand final at Pentanet Stadium on Sunday and both Laura Cinanni (Railways) and Taylah Orzel (Royals) are pushing to help their side to a maiden WAFLW flag. Both GSFLW fairest and best winners, Cinanni (2023) and Orzel (2022) made the move to Perth to play for the Tigers and have been consistent contributors in 2024. Orzel is in her second season at the Tigers and insisted that missing out on the preliminary final through injury has given her “fire in the belly” ahead of the decider. “Having the week rest gives me extra fire in my belly to be back out there and leading by example and giving it everything I have got,” she said. “I am part of the leadership group this year which I have really stepped up. “My leadership on and off the field impacts myself and others and am willing to do anything it takes for us to be our best.” While Orzel is a crucial player in the Tigers’ flag push, she admitted it has been a tumultuous season with consistent injuries hampering her preparations. “Playing for Claremont this year has been tough for me personally, with a few injuries I have missed quite a few games,” she said. “But it’s taught me a lot of things that I have never come across before and I feel like that’s turned me into a better person and player for it. “We have a really good program and a lot of support around the club and they really look after you.” After the tigers went down to the Sharks in last year’s decider, Cinanni, who played in their preliminary final win against West Perth last weekend, said a premiership would be a fitting send-off to their senior players. “It would be huge for the team and the club. I think there was understandably a bit of disappointment about losing to East Fremantle in the grand final last year, and for a lot of girls it’s their last year playing WAFLW,” Cinanni said. “Those girls are a massive part of the club and to be able to get the premiership for their last game would be unreal. “I think we are all in a really good head space, having a few losses later in the season was a really good challenge. “I think a bit of adversity always breeds resilience and you can see that in our game now.” In her first season at WAFLW level, Cinanni has played roles as an inside midfielder with stints at half-forward. It will be the third consecutive grand final between the two sides. The game starts at 2.15pm on Sunday, with the winner moving ahead 2-1 in the rivalry.