The one-goal defeat was their only loss in eight games across the four-day tournament, but one that inspired a change of tactic.

It allowed East Coast to exact revenge on their opponents from north of the border in a comprehensive 4-0 win in the final.

Coach Mick Day admitted it was the “kick up the backside” his team needed to become the best in the country for the second-straight year.

“(The loss to Queensland) hurt us because that’s the only game we’ve dropped in two years,” he said.

“A lot of the teams now know our style and you could see they had adjusted to that.

“It was more not to challenge our girls, but out of necessity that we had to do something because we didn’t want to be average down there, we wanted to still be dominant.”

Day conceded it was a bold move to change things up halfway through the competition and he was pleased his team had the confidence to pull it off.

“It was scary because it was a game plan that we’ve only trained for, we’ve never implemented this new system in competition and we’re still trying to refine it,” he said.

“I’m really happy the girls put their trust and faith in what they’ve done training wise and to do it at a national title halfway through was a big deal.”

The coach admitted it was difficult to identify which national title – 2018 or 2019 – had meant the most.

“Last year was more ‘let’s show them what we can do’ because we had the talent, skill and fitness,” he said.

“Everyone’s lifted their game which is good for the sport; winning it last year was a two to three year battle to get to.

“And trying to hang onto it (this year), we knew we had the skills and fitness but the mental game was completely different.”

The performances of unsung heroes Willow Neal and Helen Moseley provided the “backbone” which only saw the Eagles concede six goals.

“We’ve got our regular stars like Shannon, Sophie and Jess and our two keepers, but I would say Willow and Helen were two girls that really stepped up,” Day said.

“They don’t get recognised in that way, but I think they were two backbone girls.

“They mightn’t be girls that score a thousand goals, but they were the foundation for the rest of the team.”

The back-to-back national title winners have again set their sights on more success at an international level in 2019.

“Winning this one has set a big foundation for the rest of the year of where the girls are going internationally,” Day said.

“To get this one under our belt; the introductions and invitations that we have received international-wide will set up the rest of 2019-20.”

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