GLENROY v HILLSIDE – Semi Final 2
Saturday @ Windy Hill (Radio Game)
FIRSTLY, it’s great to see these two proud clubs back in the finals.
Both last appeared on the finals stage in Grand Finals on the same weekend back in 2013 and have been desperate to get back ever since.
These are the best two teams in Essendon Ford Division 1 and both are ready to make the leap to Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division should they salute in a fortnight’s time.
Glenroy clearly has the edge having swept the Sharks in the home-and-away, but Windy Hill is a very different stage to both Sunny Sewell and Shark Park.
Windy Hill is wide from wing to wing, but short from goal to goal.
Both clubs boast hard-running midfields that are dangerous on the spread but it’s Glenroy’s loaded forward line that will be the biggest factor in this one.
If Jock Burns can work out a way to reduce the collective impact of Adam Winter, Jayden Walker and Luke Capuano, then Hillside’s in with a chance.
TULLAMARINE v AIRPORT WEST – Semi Final 1
Sunday @ Windy Hill
AIRPORT West also hasn’t seen finals action since 2013 and further to that, was last in a final at the exact same time as Hillside’s 2013 Division 2 Grand Final win over Moonee Valley.
While the Sharks were winning their inaugural senior flag, Airport West was engaged in battle with Greenvale in a Premier Division Prelim Final at Coburg City Oval.
The Eagles have since been relegated and had to rebuild from the ground up, and under the guidance of both Robbie Ahmat and Geoff Maddern, they’re back in the post-season and deservingly so.
Tullamarine’s year has been fascinating.
Anthony Leydin was let go as coach mid-season and immediately after, the Demons handed Glenroy one of its two losses for the year at Sewell Reserve.
They are a remarkable footy club and are favoured to advance to next week’s Prelim at Coburg City Oval.
Finals experience is a key advantage for the Demons here, but Airport West, led brilliantly by one of the division’s brightest stars in Tyson Young, is more than a tricky match-up at Windy Hill.
