Premier Division – East Coast Eagles vs Pennant Hills Demons @ 2.15pm @ Henson Park
The last game of the year is here, the Premier Division Grand Final, with strong favourites East Coast Eagles taking on rivals Pennant Hills Demons for the Bill Hart Cup.
The Road So Far
East Coast
The Eagles have dominated all teams this year after their first grade side came back into the Premier Division competition.
After leading by 40 points at three quarter time in Round 1, the Eagles would lose their one and only game of the year after Manly Warringah claimed one of the greatest come from behind wins in the Premier Division competition.
Since then, the Eagles have not had another slip up. They have registered some huge wins along the way including Round 3 vs UTS by 122 points, Round 9 vs UNSW/ES by 131 points, Round 13 vs Western Suburbs by 137 points and Round 17 vs North Shore by 154 points.
They will go into Sunday’s match as strong favourites.
Pennant Hills
The Demons were expected to fall down the ladder after losing two experienced players in Lloyd Shepherd and Alex Goodall but have defied the critics to be in their third consecutive Grand Final.
They announced themselves as premiership contenders once again with their first win over Manly Warringah in Premier Division in the Grand Final rematch in Round 2 by 7 points.
The Demons lost their first game of the year to the Eagles but showed they could match it with them. One of the better wins by the Demons in 2015 came against Manly Warringah in Round 11 by 6 points at the Demons ‘Back to the Ern’ day.
They have had impressive wins against Manly Warringah in the Qualifying Final and St George in the Preliminary Final so far this finals series and will looking to add one more this weekend.
Previous Matchups
The Eagles have won all three matches against the sides in 2015. In Round 4, East Coast would travel to Mike Kenny Oval on a wet and cold day and defeat the Demons by 28 points. They would meet again at Kanebridge Oval in Round 11 on Rivalry Round where the Eagles were far too good for the Demons winning by 61 points despite an even first half. In their most recent meetings, the 2nd Semi Final, the Demons pushed the Eagles all the way, including leading at half time, before East Coast gained control of the mach running out winners by 12 points.
Key Players
East Coast
Trent Stubbs – Stubbs will be out to prove a point this weekend after surprisingly finishing runner up for the Phelan Medal. Arguably the best player in the competition, the Demons will need to make sure Stubbs is accountable at all times. Stubbs will be most dangerous when he goes forward after kicking 59 goals in 2015 and claiming the Stan Milton trophy.
Jack Dimery – There’s no surprise why Eagles love giving the ball to Dimery as he is such a good decision maker with ball in hand. Consistently has racked up 30+ possessions during the year and leads the competition in running metres when he has the ball. Is a previous Rod Podbury Medallist in 2011 so he feels no nerves for the biggest game of the year.
Andrew McConnell – McConnell is one of the best all-round players in the competition. Will start midfield and can win the ball when the going is tough but like Stubbs, can then go forward and kick goals for fun, highlighted by his 47 goals in 2015. Another big game player emphasised by his five goal, best on ground display in the representative game against Canberra which earned him the Rep Player of the Year.
Kieran Emery - Mr Efficiency as he is known, Emery will set up the Eagles attack from the half back line with his pinpoint right boot. One who reads the play extremely well to take more intercept marks than any other in the competition, the Demon's will need to ensure he is closely guarded.
X-FACTOR
Blake Anderson – Will provide good run from the defensive fifty and with his elite foot skills, could break the game open.
Pennant Hills
Matt Carey – The co-captain of the Demons has been a consistent player over the course of the season. After a quiet game last weekend, Carey will be up for this one and won’t want to lose a third Grand Final. A smooth mover and a long left boot, the 2008 Phelan Medal winner will need to use all his class and experience to lead the Demons across the line.
Kieran Wright – Another Phelan Medallist in 2011, Wright will be key across half back for the Demons. With his recognisable right foot kicking style, Wright will look to pump the ball out of the back fifty and will look to come third up in marking contests in the defensive fifty
James Dunn – Dunn has enjoyed a good second half of the year after a slow start. Will start on the wing but has developed his game in 2015 to now be a threat inside forward fifty, kicking 11 goals in the last four games and being one of the Demons better players last weekend.
Tom Angel - The underrated Angel will have one of the key jobs on Stubbs or McConnell which will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the match. A prolific ball winner in his own right, he can also push forward to kick goals and comes into the biggest game of the year in red hot form.
X-FACTOR
Luke Bilbe – Was best on ground last weekend in the Preliminary Final win using his big frame effectively in the air and will be a handful for the East Coast defenders.
Prediction
| |
Match Prediction |
Rod Podbury Medallist |
Match Highlight |
| Matthew Graham (Former AFL Sydney Football Operations Manager) |
East Coast by 19 |
Trent Stubbs (ECE) |
Dimery hanger and goal midway through the last to holt the Demons momentum |
| Lauren Bunting (AFL Sydney Football Operations Manager) |
Pennant Hills by 4 |
Matt Carey (PH) |
Goal on half time siren to Luke Bilbe gives them momentum for second half |
| Darren Simpson (AFL NSW/ACT State Football Operations Manager) |
East Coast by 28 |
Andrew Browning (ECE) |
Ranga Ediriwickrama to take a hangar 50m out on the boundary line and, then play on and goal |
| Luke Turner (Formally known as Danny) |
East Coast by 23 |
Jon Vlatko (ECE) |
Kieran Emery goes forward and dribbles one home from the left pocket |
| Scott Burkinshaw (AFL Sydney Football Operations Coordinator) |
East Coast by 25 |
Trent Stubbs (ECE) |
Stubbs to kick four and the first goal of the game |
| Patrick Carter (NEAFL Manager) |
Pennant Hills by 1 |
Michael Talbot (PH) |
Scott Reed to take mark of the year |
Last Modified on 25/09/2015 10:21
