West Coburg and Oak Park will face off in the 2026 Community Bank Strathmore Division One grand final at Coburg City Oval this week.
In a top-of-the-table blockbuster, and with both teams look to avenge grand final heartbreak, a mouth-watering contest is widely anticipated.
With this being the second time these two sides will meet in the finals series, Oak Park will have it all to do as it looks to reverse the result of two weeks ago.
The Roos still hold a favourable 2-1 lead over the Burgers in their encounters this season though.
They took care of business in a thriller at home back in Round 2, winning by a mere 12 points, before Round 14’s result saw the Roos drop a 35-point win over the Burgers.
West Coburg will no doubt be feeling rejuvenated, fresh, and ready to go as they prepare for another Division One grand final.
After claiming the minor premiership at season's end, the Burgers charged into a grand final following their dominant semi final display against the Roos a couple of weeks ago.
Tom Baravi and Dinny Cleary were instrumental in their semi final clash, and they have proven to be two pillars of this electric West Coburg midfield all season long.
Both have averaged over 25 disposals per game for the season, and both are clearance machines with an average of six each.
The Burgers will need another excellent midfield display from these two if they are to capture that elusive premiership cup.
On the other end of the ledger, the Kangaroos have taken the long route into this year’s grand final; claiming victory over Moonee Valley in the first qualifying final before having to put the Valley away again last week in a preliminary final.
The loss to their upcoming rivals in week two of the finals means that the Roos will have to play a total of four finals to claim this year’s premiership, while their rivals only require the two.
Will a lengthy finals campaign catch up to the Roos, or do they have one last premiership-winning effort in them?
A couple to watch will be ruck Josh Hotchkin and co-captain Lachlan Stredwick.
Hotchkin is a bulldozing force around the ground and has had a marvellous season to date.
Averaging 16 disposals, 47 hit outs, and five marks a game, he has been one of the division’s top rucks all season long and gets his chance on the biggest stage of them all.
In similar fashion, Stredwick has starred once again in 2026 with another stellar campaign thus far.
Ranked as elite in intercept marks, contested marks, rebound 50s, 1%er’s, and spoils, he has once again made a strong case as the best defender in the division since making the move down from Pascoe Vale.
With a ticket to the top flight on the line, this one is shaping to be an epic.
