FORWARD Gemma Houghton says her Yartapuulti teammates remained focussed on earning a sixth win in-a-row and not yet on playing finals football.

A win on Sunday against Greater Western Sydney would secure the club its first AFLW finals campaign in just its third season.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Houghton said qualifying for finals would be a reward for the effort the group has put in to improve over the past two years, but getting the job done against the Giants was the immediate focus.

The experienced West Australian also discussed Jo Miller’s impressive AFLW debut, her own form, and her hopes for a big crowd at Alberton on Sunday for what could be the final home game of the season.

Gemma Houghton on the team all but qualifying for the AFLW finals for the first time:

“Yeah, (we’re) absolutely still feeling the buzz after the win. We found out after the game that we were (likely) going to play finals. I think going into this season, that was always our goal and our aim, and (I’m) really proud that the work that we've put in in the off-season and in the pre-season is paying off for the girls.

“We made sure that we were doing everything behind closed doors and everything we could to help each other to get to that point. I think that's like I said, that's everyone's goal is to play finals. Obviously, in our third season, to be in this position is huge for us, and the last two seasons, I think, is an add up to where we are now. It didn't just happen this season. It happened from the start of our program. We've always had that vision, and I think we'll continue to build and get stronger as the years and seasons go on.”

Gemma Houghton on the importance of the win over Gold Coast:

“That game, in particular, for us, was a big win. We had a lot of girls with a with some milestones, you know, Lamby (Kirsty Lamb) with her 75^th, Hammo (Cheyenne Hammond), with their 50th and Jo (Miller) with her debut and being Indigenous Round as well. So, there are a lot of big things out of that game, and that was just an added bonus to be able to play well and being told that we're playing finals.”

Gemma Houghton on the biggest changes amongst the group this season:

“I think the coaching, like Loz (Arnell), and the amount of work she's put into us, and, you know the group that we've got around us with the assistant coaching, and the girls putting in the work as well. I think it makes a huge difference come pre-season, when you see everyone rock up to the club and you're doing those sessions together. It builds trust and that foundation first, that we're all doing this together, and when you run out on the field, it just makes it little bit sweeter, knowing that you've got each other's back and that you've done the hard work.”

Gemma Houghton on Jo Miller’s two goals on debut last week against Gold Coast:

“It was huge. She was bit sore at the end. I think I was holding her leg up to help with her cramping, but Jo's put in a massive amount of work. Credit to her. She came in sort of later in our season, and just her ability to gel with the group and come in and lift to our standards as well that we've tried to build in this group has been huge, and that's just a reward for her effort. No doubt she's got so much more to show for this group.”

Gemma Houghton on her own form:

“My goal kicking is something that I always am practicing out here. And, I think my ability to just play the game without putting too much pressure on myself, all of those goals come in from just the group as well and how we're playing and surging the ball forward. Goals can be hard to come by in the game, and I just want to make sure that every opportunity I get to help the team move forward, I'm doing them.”

Gemma Houghton on how impressed she has been with some of the younger players in the group:

“We've got three Rising Star nominees from one team so, and not to mention, last year as well. So, the young girls coming in are definitely keeping me on my toes. You're fighting for your spot, that's for sure. One thing that surprises me with them is their professionalism at such a young age, their ability to come into the club and, you know, it's very rare that you're constantly reminding them, this is what we want to be, this is how we do it. They just do it with their actions and… you feel the pressure with results and stuff, so for them to come in and handle their own and still perform the way that they do is a credit to them.”

Gemma Houghton on this week’s focus:

“I think our main focus this week is to just, you know, play another home game in front of the Alberton crowd. And our focus is GWS. We won't go in underestimating them. They're a really good side and they're finding a lot of form in the back end of the season. We have to make sure we go in just like a normal game for us, and try get the four points.

“Any game you go into is a winnable game in a sense of, you know, there's so much that can fall into the day. We will go in with the belief that we can do it. We've shown patches of it. It's just making sure that we're being consistent. We're sticking to our game plan. We know it works. We've seen that it works. So, we're just going to head down and see how far we can go.”

Gemma Houghton on the club’s Member Recognition Round this week:

“I was actually speaking to a few of the girls just before about how special it is playing here at Alberton. We've got, I believe, one of the best ovals and grounds in the competition, and to be able to come back here and play another game, get to hear, Never Tear Us Apart again, which is so special, and again, in Member Recognition Round and Indigenous Round is huge for us. We’re hoping that we get a really big crowd this week to send us off into the finals with a bit more energy. And we can't wait to see the crowd this weekend.”