Improving on a third-placed finish and semi-final appearance in first grade and getting the 20s into finals was the main focus.

Now, both sides hold commanding leads heading into the return legs of their semi-finals and are just 90 minutes away from potential grand final appearances. First grade lead South Wallsend 3-1 going into Sunday's game at Lisle Carr Oval and the 20s are up 5-0 against Wallsend.

The acquisitions of experienced WPL players Sophie Jones, Imogene Tomasone and Lauren Allan have proven integral to the club's first-grade success. They joined a side which already featured in-form Jets striker Tara Andrews and former W-League defender Stacey Day.

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But Hamilton, who will coach on with New Lambton next season, said emerging talent in the Eagles squad has also helped breed success.

"Having that balance in a squad between experience and the younger players is really important for development of both people," Hamilton said.

"I think sometimes younger players can make the older ones continue to have some desire because they see the younger players show that desire. From a younger player's perspective, it's good to see them train with people like Stacey and Tara, who have played at high level, because they experience what it's like to play against that type of footballer."

Kate Heap, 16, and 15-year-olds Gabby Martinelle and Nikiesha Young joined the Eagles from the Emerging Jets hoping to improve their own game.

They have been permanent fixtures in the 20s side and Heap forced her way into the first-grade starting team last Sunday after a strong performance against the Wolves two weeks earlier.

The squad's rising talent has not been lost on 30-year-old Day, who has played at plenty of successful WPL clubs but says the Eagles have "a whole different vibe".

"Kate played against [Matilda] Gema Simon a couple of weeks ago and Gema was in her pocket the whole game," Day said.

"For Kate to be able to keep a player like that quiet at 16, that's massive. You've got girls a lot older than that that wouldn't have been able to do the job that she did.

"We've always trained with our 20s. We can play an 11 v 11 game at training and it's magic. I've been to training at other clubs when there's been five players. The girls want to be here. You come to training knowing you're going to learn something and get something out of it."

Merewether lead Warners Bay 3-1 in the other first-grade semi-final. They play the second leg at John Street Oval this Sunday. The winners of the two-legged semi-finals will book passage to the championship decider at Rockwell Automation Park, Weston on September 1.