by Jim Gordon
The Mallee Football League’s two stand out teams in 2010 will rightly contest this year’s Grand Final on Saturday at Sea Lake.
The availability list for both Clubs is bursting at the seams. There may be a fitness cloud over a couple of players, but the only real headache the Clubs have at this stage are two very strong lists from which to attempt to select a winning combination.
There should be a bumper crowd at Sea Lake. Ouyen United have all three sides playing, Seniors, Reserves and Under 16s. Beulah has both Seniors and Reserves playing as well as Junior A and C Grade netballers. Beulah and Ouyen United are well supported Clubs and both are expecting supporters to come from all directions.
Beulah last won the flag in 2005 defeating the Cats by 41 points whilst Ouyen United were victorious in 2006 also against Woomelang Lascelles.
For the Beulah Blues that win was the third of three in a row flags. Last year Ouyen United missed out on the Premiership to Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
What a battle this year’s Grand Final promises to be. Both of these sides are bristling with talent. Beulah’s Scott Smith was the MFL Best and Fairest winner, just behind him were Ouyen United’s Peter Caldow and Glenn Joyce.
Both forward lines are rich in goal kicking ability. Beulah has Jarred Combe, Jacob Percy and Dale Shannon, whilst Ouyen United rely on the strength and experience of Sonny Lindsay and Ash Connick to do the bulk of the scoring for them. The full backs for both sides have had good years with Tim Hill for the Blues, and last week Adam Moore was one of Ouyen United’s best in their good win against Jeparit Rainbow.
Both sides rely on a combination of fast and accurate hand and foot skills around the packs and it is here that the game could be won or lost. Tom Hallam and Scott Smith are keys for the Blues with their strength and speed and likewise Glenn Joyce and Marc Hahnel provide run out of the centre for the Demons. In the battle of the big men, Stephen Saunders will come up against Jason Hahnel. The Blues have a tight defence with Kim Hallam and Chris McKenzie backing up Hill, Jarrod Munro and Kieran O’Shannessy are teaming well with Moore.
With so many even tussles bound to be occurring all over the ground, it may be the wildcards that will decide the game. In his first game for the year in the Second Semi, Peter Lehmann scored four goals for the Blues to be the difference between the two sides. If he can replicate this form, the Beulah will be hard to topple. Ouyen United’s Brett Knowles did not play against Beulah in that game and if he can play as well as he did in a half of football down at Hopetoun recently, Ouyen United’s name could be on the cup.
In the year 2000 Beulah won both Senior and Reserve Grade Premierships. They deserve to be favourites going into the Seniors game and they will happily take that even if they do not win both grades this year.
The Beulah boys don't mind a run around on the Sea Lake ground, they won their last Premiership at Sea Lake. They have thirteen listed premiership players from the 2005 Premiership side and this Club knows how to win flags. The Beulah Football Club has won 20 Premiership Cups since 1947, Cup number 21 is there for the taking.
Last Modified on 07/09/2010 22:05
