As we delve deeper and deeper into finals throughout all three men’s competitions, the premier division sees us head to the penultimate game of the season, when Strathmore and Pascoe Vale lock horns in the preliminary final at Highgate Recreation Reserve.
A battle for the ages, these sides have managed to split the head-to-head tally, with the Panthers taking the chocolates in Round 5 by 23 points, and Strathmore firing back later on in the season to take the win in Round 14 by 52 points.
Pascoe Vale’s performance last week in the elimination final shouldn’t come as a surprise, but questions of whether they were able to sustain that form for back-to-back weeks against Keilor was what the EDFL faithful were keen to see. And boy did they do it.
The Panthers seem to thrive on the larger ground, where their key forwards have more room to lead and protect space. Ironically though, it was Dan Guccione who led the Panther pack with three goals against the Blues last week, with a number of other goal scorers managing singles.
Digby Morrell’s men have without a doubt closed the gap on the “big three” this season. Last week was the evidence that they needed to prove that. Another massive challenge ensues this week though, as they come up against a Strathmore outfit presumably at full strength.
Having beaten the Two Blues in the final round of the season, the Mores had plenty to look forward to last week in the qualifying final. Abers had other ideas.
The boys from Clifton Park decimated the Mores, and more impressively they did it without spearhead Jayden Foster and key defender Luke Davis.
Strathmore were also missing midfield bull Will Jury, who does make a significant impact on the contest. He earned the NXP Player of the Game the last time these two teams met at Lebanon Reserve, and the Panthers will certainly be looking to nullify his impact around the ground pending he does play.
This week’s matchup between the Mores and Panthers is a scrumptious one. Strathmore will be looking to advance to the big dance for the first time since 2014, a game in which they beat Abers by two points, whilst the Panthers will be aiming to bring back their first piece of silverware to Raeburn Reserve since 2011, and their first in the premier division.
It’s a contest between two sides who have struggled to get past respective rounds of the finals series, with Pascoe Vale falling short in the elimination final in recent years, whilst Strathmore have done the same in the prelim final. With Aberfeldie awaiting the winner, this one is huge.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s grand final week in Rookie Me Division One.
This matchup couldn’t be more of a David and Goliath story, but just don’t tell Dale May’s men that. West Coburg are absolutely floating on air after the last couple of weeks that they’ve had, making light work of Westmeadows and then upsetting Tullamarine to knock the Dees out in straight sets.
The Burgers’ social media accounts went berserk after their huge win over Tulla, showing scenes of pandemonium and elation, and rightfully so.
The boys from the Shoretress are riding an incredible wave of momentum into the grand final this coming Sunday, and they have every reason to be up and about.
On the other side of the coin though, is the powerhouse that is Airport West. Having only dropped one game all year, the Eagles are well placed to secure promotion into the topflight. Their balance and depth around the park are absolutely lethal, and their unpredictability up forward is something to be desired.
All you need to do is look back to the qualifying final against Tullamarine to see this, as the boys from the Nest in the West dismantled Tulla to the tune of 89 points. The question has been beckoning… can anyone seriously get close to the Eagles in the finals?
Airport West are also no strangers to the big dance in division one, with their last appearance coming in 2018. They will be looking to jump back into the topflight with an extended stay up this time. For West Coburg, it’s their first grand final appearance in eight years, having won the division one flag in 2014 against Tulla.
As the Burgers continue to ride their wave of momentum, they can take some comfort in knowing that Windy Hill, just like Highgate Recreation Reserve, is a huge ground with ample space for their forwards to run riot.
May indicated this last week on the NXP Post Game Show, where he explained that the Burgers do prefer bigger grounds, and it’s not hard to see why.
Could we see an upset for the ages here, or do the Eagles make it a near perfect season? Tune in on Sunday to find out.
Windy Hill is the place to be on Sunday, or alternatively tune in to 98.9 North West FM or Cluch TV to catch all the action.
Grand final action begins this weekend, with Keilor Park and Oak Park fighting it out for the premiership in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two on Saturday.
It has been a hugely successful season for Paul Gauicas and his men, who haven’t lost a game since Round 1 of the season.
It’s a massive turnaround for the football club which found itself in recess back in 2018, and even up until last year had finished sixth in the division with a record of 4-6.
The Devils will go in favourites in this one, but if other divisions are anything to go by then anything can happen on grand final day. All you need to do is look at Airport Toyota Women’s Division One, where Greenvale had won all three games against Strathmore prior to the big dance, and then got run through in the most important match of the season.
And Oak Park will have the confidence in knowing that they can do some damage. They led for three quarters out at Section Road in the qualifying semi final before Keilor Park ultimately ran over the top of them in the last term.
They can also take comfort in knowing they were able to hold on against Coburg Districts without Blair Cronin, the Roos’ leading goal kicker, whilst finding other avenues to the big sticks.
Defensively though, Oak Park will need to lock down the experienced duo of Robbie Castello and Damian Cavka who have had unbelievable seasons in 2022.
Castello burst out of the blocks and finished the season with 36 goals whilst Cavka enjoyed a strong finish to the year, ending with 26.
Cavka also spurred the Devils home two weeks ago, booting four goals to sink the Oakers. Both sides have grand final experience, and it will be interesting to see which side holds up the better because of this.
Another massive game on the cards. Get down to Windy Hill on Saturday to catch all the action, or alternatively tune in to 98.9 North West FM or Cluch TV to follow the game.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
STRATHMORE v PASCOE VALE - PRELIMINARY FINAL
Saturday 2:15pm at Highgate Reserve
AIRPORT WEST v WEST COBURG - GRAND FINAL
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Sunday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
KEILOR PARK v OAK PARK - GRAND FINAL
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
