Using their pace and running to support each other are the keys for Fitzroy-ACU Women 1 in the finals, according to stand-in coach Lauchlan Dalgleish who has just wrapped up a five week stint with the Roy Girls.

The former Bomber and current VFL-listed Footscray player has proven himself a more than handy replacement for coach Mick Symons, who has been travelling overseas. At the same time, Lauchlan credits the Roy Girls with reigniting his enthusiasm for the game.

They are just so enthusiastic. They cant wait to get into training and games and theyre always keen to get better,Lauchlan says of the Roy Girls.

They have their own ideas and they ask lots of questions and hit me up for feedback. Its a bit different from being with the boys and its helped me get my enthusiasm back./p>

If you can have any such thing as a well-timed injury, Lauchlan just has, with torn ligaments in his ankle affording him the time on the sidelines for his first coaching gig. Partner of Fitzroy-ACUs Annabel Watson, Lauchlan had been helping Mick out on game day since earlier in the season. He was back in the red, white and blue last weekend and hopes to help Footscray go deep into the finals.

He also wants to help Fitzroy-ACU do the same. Id love to keep helping out. You can see the other teams improving all the time. Xavs (last weekends opponent, which Fitzroy held off in a very tight finish) were a better side than when we played them a few weeks back so we need to keep getting better too.

We are a quick team so we have to use our run and match the physicality of some of the other sides and that will take them a long way into the finals./p>

The Roy Girls will have another very tough contest this weekend in the final home and away game, as opponents Caufield Grammarians fight it out to finish in the top four. Caufield proved extremely hard to throw off last time the teams met and they have everything to play for. It should be another good preparation for finals.

Fitzroy-ACU will start its finals campaign next weekend, most likely against top side SKOB Saints at 2pm on Saturday 5 August at Basil Reserve in East Malvern. Get it in the diary. All those details will be confirmed next week.

Not that we are getting ahead of ourselves but, should we make it, the VAFA has released the womens grand final dates and venues today, with the Wilsons Womens Premier Grand Final to be played on Sunday 20 August at Sportscover Arena.