TODAY is the biggest day on the EDFL’s calendar – the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Grand Final.
We have two of the EDFL’s powerhouse clubs taking centre stage today with Aberfeldie taking on Greenvale.
Aberfeldie has become an irresistible force in recent years. This year will mark the club’s fifth successive grand final appearance.
Aberfeldie had to wait a mammoth 41 years between their top-flight successes in 1974 and 2015 and are hoping that 2017 becomes their third premiership at Premier Division level and their seventh senior premiership overall in the EDFL.
Overcoming Greenvale, a name that has become synonymous with success, will be no easy feat. In 14 years of Premier Division football, Greenvale has reached the grand final on 10 separate occasions, having already won four premierships and looking to add a fifth today.
Greenvale is also looking to be the first club to win three open-age premierships in the same year. Having won the Thirds premiership earlier in the year, the club now stands on the verge of winning the reserves and seniors. This demonstrates a tremendous amount of depth in the senior ranks at Greenvale.
This depth will be put to the test today with injuries to key players posing a question mark over the Greenvale line-up. It will be interesting to see the 22 players who run out for Greenvale, throwing a layer of intrigue over the match.
Having finished in the top two positions on the ladder after the home-and-away season, separated only by percentage, it is fitting that these two teams have won their way through to the grand final.
I extend the best of luck to John Larkins and Adam Potter at Aberfeldie and Bruce Kent and Paul Chapman at Greenvale.
It is going to be an exciting end to the season.
I must extend my congratulations to both Glenroy and Jacana for achieving premiership success in their respective divisions.
Glenroy has clearly been the standout team in the Essendon Ford Division 1 competition and richly deserves their premiership success. It is a welcome return to the Premier Division for a strong club, having last competed at the top level of EDFL football in 2009.
Congratulations to Murray Nilsson, Adrian McDonald, Ross Terranova and everyone involved in Glenroy in a magnificent season.
For Jacana, 2017 has completed the rags to riches story for the club. Victory last Saturday marked their first senior premiership in the EDFL, having joined from the RDFL in 2001. In 2012 the club finished last with zero wins and a percentage of only 7.54. A lot of effort has gone into rebuilding the club from many Jacana stalwarts and it is great for those loyal servants to witness the club achieve premiership success.
Congratulations to Rick Lloyd, Khan Sayers, Rob Fletcher and everyone involved in Jacana on making EDFL history.
I hope everyone enjoys today’s Grand Final. It will undoubtedly be a fantastic spectacle of EDFL football.
Marc Turri, EDFL CEO
