A month before the Warrnambool and District league season the Timboon Demons didn't have a coach.
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Camperdown and Hampden league life member Leah Sinnott decided to take the reins after helping at a couple of training sessions.
Now the Dees are set to face Old Collegians in an elimination final on Sunday at Merrivale Recreation Reserve.
Former coach and current player Kelly Gowland said it had been a great turnaround.
"We effectively didn't have a pre-season, a month in we were still getting to know each other," she said.
"Admittedly a lot of the old team from last year were still there but we did have a few new inclusions.
"And Leah mixed things up a bit with bringing some girls up from A reserve as well so that took a little while to figure itself out."
The experienced wing defence, who led the team from 2015-18, said it took the group about half a season to hit its straps.
"I'm really happy with where we are at now and that's why I think we're promising and we can certainly match it with the top teams," she said.
The Dees won four matches in a row before falling to top-ranked Nirranda in the final round.
Gowland said Raina Hunt and Nina Barlow had come up from A reserve while Hollie Castledine had come across from Camperdown this year.
The Dees and Warriors shared the points this season.
Old Collegians got up by three goals in round four and the Dees took a four-goal win in round 14.
The Demons also beat the Warriors 54-34 in a semi final last season.
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Gowland said she expected a great game against the Warriors.
"We don't underestimate them at all," she said.
"They're tough, their goalies are accurate, their defenders are well-drilled so we certainly need to be on our game.
"But I think within our group we know we can beat them but we definitely have to be playing well."
Gowland said the Dees would go into the clash with their full side.
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