Introductions are really not necessary, Box Hill Hawks and Williamstown are on first name basis when it comes to this big dance.
It seems Box Hill Hawks and Williamstown have a date in the Development League Grand Final each year.
Over the past 12 years, the VFL Hawks have won four Development League premierships, Williamstown has won five - with one of the two clubs being represented in the Development League Grand Final in all bar the 2007 Grand Final since 2001.
Box Hill Hawks are lining up for its seventh successive Development League Grand Final, Williamstown it’s second.
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CLICK HERE to listen to Williamstown coach Brett Henderson talk about the upcoming Grand Final
Who will forget the extraordinary match these two clubs played last year when the game went into extra time with the outcome decided by the ‘golden point’.
It took an agonising seven minutes before Williamstown was able to register the first score in extra time to seize a truly memorable premiership.
It was the second successive year that Box Hill Hawks had lost a heart-breaker as Coburg defeated them by seven points in 2012, snapping the VFL Hawks stretch of three straight premierships.
The depth of these two great clubs as well as their intense rivalry has again been on display this season.
Williamstown won the Grand Final rematch, way back in late March, by, would you believe, one point!
Box Hill Hawks extracted their revenge when the clubs next met, but again it was an epic, with just 11-points separating the clubs.
At the last meeting in the Second Semi Final, the Seagulls won its way through to the Grand final with a 44-point win, built on the back of a 7.4 to 0.1 second quarter.
Take that quarter out of the equation it was again a close match, but unfortunately for Box Hill Hawks that’s great in theory, but not in reality.
Box Hill Hawks overcame a tenacious first half from Port Melbourne in the Preliminary Final, which saw them lead by just four points at half time, but they applied the blow torch in the second half to run out 82-point winners.
So, the Hawks and Seagulls again square off, just as they do in the VFL Preliminary Final.
Box Hill Hawks went into the Second Semi Final without A. Todd Medallist and competition leading goal kicker Peter McEvoy, who was rewarded with his first senior match, and the talented Sam Cust.
Much interest will rest on selection for both clubs with Hawthorn AFL Listed players dropping to the VFL, which in turn will push players back to the Development League.
Andy Collins swung five changes to the Williamstown team that lost to Footscray so the interest there will be what changes, if any, are made this week.
Whichever way you try to dissect the match there’s little between the teams. It won’t surprise anyone who has watched these two powerful clubs if this game once again goes down to the wire.
WHERE: North Port Oval
WHEN: Saturday September 13, 10:45am
Last Modified on 10/09/2014 16:26