TAYLORS LAKES v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
The race for the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two premiership is down to two as the competition is set for a thrilling finale on Saturday.
Taylors Lakes will be hoping to make it a second premiership under Steve Burns, while Westmeadows will be hoping to continue its fairytale run.
Taylors Lakes has been the team to beat all season.
Unlucky not to feature in the decider 12 months ago, the Lions added some key pieces to ensure there would be no straight sets exit.
Add the late inclusion of former VFL-listed player Lockie Rayner and the Lions were favourites entering the season.
They showed exactly why and finished on top.
The Lions had their injury challenges. Ben Weightman was the biggest name who suffered a season-ending knee injury after kicking 24 goals from four games.
A come-from-behind qualifying final win gave the Lions the first spot in the grand final.
While the Lions were favourites entering the season, the Tigers were the big unknown.
They came down from Division One where they almost avoided relegation after a strong back part of the season.
After an off season of disaster heading into 2023, the Tigers were one of the quietest teams in the league heading into this year.
Their core group of local talent all re-signed and were keen to build on last season but didn’t add many recruits.
Early wins against the Northern Saints, Coburg Districts, and Sunbury Kangaroos showed the Tigers weren’t going to be easy beats.
Both Taylors Lakes and Burnside Heights gave them early reality checks though.
The Tigers continued to show they were the third best team in the competition, outside of a couple of small hiccups.
They beat Burnside Heights the second time and drew with Taylors Lakes, to show maybe they were in with a chance.
Come finals, the Tigers were looking for their first finals win in 14 years.
Against the Northern Saints they overcame a slow start, poor goalkicking, the rain, and a lightning delay to win.
The slow start and poor goalkicking were again there in the preliminary final against Burnside Heights along with a tricky wind, but the Tigers again came from behind to win through to the grand final.
Come Saturday, both teams will be keen to end premiership droughts.
The Lions last premiership came in 2010 in Division One where Steve Burns was again at the helm.
Before this year they hadn’t won a senior final since 2012.
The Tigers premiership drought dates back way longer. They hadn’t made a grand final since 2000 and their only premiership was in 1984 with Robert Clark in charge.
Come game day, history is exactly that.
A new group of players will write their names into the record books.
The Lions will be the team to beat.
They’ve had the week off and seemed to have all the answers when they’ve needed them.
Taylors Lakes has experience on all lines of the ground.
Many of the group has been at the club for a number of years.
Chris Vulic leads the midfield group and has racked up the possessions all year. Against a Tigers side that struggles with clearances, it could be a big day for him.
Rayner is the x-factor, a Mr Fix-it. A dominant ruck, he can also play back and forward, with five bags of three or more goals for the season.
In front of goal, they shared it around. Luke Nappi led the way with 30 goals for the side that was the best scoring side of the competition.
Westmeadows has more of a running side that likes to get the ball moving.
Dry conditions at a big and open Windy Hill is the dream scenario for the Tigers.
The open space will favour their run and carry game, with the Tigers a high disposal efficiency side.
Jordan Kosteas is one of the best rebounding defenders in the competition and is also one of the leading possession getters.
In attack you’ve got Aaron Evans and Korey Flavel-Wood at the talls' feet. Nathan Sparks is a tackling machine in attack.
Ruck Michael Mayne has had a dominant season, but his mids need to ensure they’re reading the ball well.
The key to the match in this one will be the start.
The Tigers have been poor the last two weeks and managed to get away with it but it’s unlikely to happen a third time with goal kicking another factor.
If the Lions mids can get on top early, it will be trouble for the Tigers.
