This Saturday will be the climax of the EDFL season when Warragul Industrials and Catani meet in the 2017 grand final. It will be the first time the Dusties and the Blues have met in a grand final. Warragul Industrials won their last flag in 1996 and Catani its last flag in 2005.
A big day of football will kick off at 8:30am with the U16 grand final between Warragul Industrials and Buln Buln. While the Neerim South seniors will agonise over what might have been last week it will still get an opportunity to win a flag when it meets Catani at U/18 level and the Dusties in the reserves.
SENIORS – WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v CATANI
Head to Head in 2017
Round 8 – Catani 12.15.87 defeated Warragul Industrials 8.14.62
Round 17 – Warragul Industrials 13.7.85 defeated Catani 8.15.63
Qual Final – Warragul Industrials 8.12.60 defeated Catani 6.8.44
TOP 5 LEADING GOAL KICKERS PER CLUB
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS
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CATANI
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Corey Nickels (49)
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Owen Fitzpatrick (66)
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Shane Brewster (43)
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Ryan Eaton (37)
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Will Jolley (37)
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Paul Pattison (23)
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Tye Holland (23)
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Antonio Benvenuto (15)
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Dylan Holland (23)
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Nick Visser (13)
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After missing the finals last year for the first time in eight seasons the Dusties answered the sceptics by winning 11 of its last 12 matches since round nine to seal a spot in today’s grand final. In Shane Brewster, Tye Holland, Tyson Bale and Josh Peterson it has players that perform when it matters.
It’s 2017 outfit looks much stronger based on the fact it now has youngsters led by Travis Ogden, Will Gibson, Josh Seri, Jackson Kos and River Ford to have all stepped up and help share the workload.
The revival of Catani this season is largely responsible to good recruiting. Newcomers Aiden Cuff, Dale Johnson and Tim Lonsdale have all proved unobtrusive but effective in defence while classy Casey Demons recruit Paul Pattison – who tied with Shane Brewster in the 2017 Lang Lang Golf Club MVP award - has been the architect behind many of the Blues victories in close games.
Both teams have good blue collar workers in and around the middle but fancy it will be Warragul Industrials to win the 2017 premiership. It boasts far more goal kicking options and will probably hold an edge over Catani - as they should be far fresher because the Blues were made to fight every second by Neerim South last week in a taxing game.
RESERVES – NEERIM SOUTH v WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS
The two top sides at the end of the home and away season meet in the reserves. Neerim South overpowered the Warragul Industrials by 30 points in the second semi-final. However to aid the Dusties this time around - with its seniors playing it will have the advantage of the open selection policy - which should ensure it fields a stronger side. Expect Chris Saunders, Daniel Fusinato and ruckman Jack Eriksson along with the experience of Darren Ratten, Mick Cumming, JacK Halligan and Matt Churchill to all make their presence felt. For the Dusties Sam Davies has proved hard to pass in a key defensive role and based on last week one can expect Scott Lindsay, Damien Mullen, Luke O’Brien, Darren Blaney and Darcy Nielsen to provide the engine room and Matt Gooden, Joel Crowther and Jai Jose to apply the finishing touches across the forward line.
U/18s – CATANI v NEERIM SOUTH
The thirds clash will stir great interest among spectators and especially Catani and Neerim South fans because it will showpiece the future stars for these two clubs. Blues on ballers Liam and Trent Adams, forwards Lachlan Gregson and Mitchell Hovenbitzer, ruckman Jackson Caddy and utilities Jason Cox and Riley McDonald are all names we will hear a lot more at senior level from next year onwards. For the Cats there is a lot to like about ruckman Lachlan Guy, midfielders Cooper Clancy, Jake Ward and Rhys George along with defender Matt Kelliher and utility Isaiah Abrahams to name just a few.
U/16s – WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v BULN BULN
The Dusties gave notice of their talent in the qualifying final when they overturned a one-point deficit at half time to win by 19 points over Buln Buln. Ruck rover Tyler Irving has been terrific this season and forwards Ryley Green and Lachlan Wilson will play a key role. Lyrebird forwards Charlie Wans, Jack Storey and Paisarn White all pose a strong threat especially if the midfielders led by Jake Smith, Jaryd Kelly and Nelson Brew can get the ball into the forward fifty regularly.
Last Modified on 15/09/2017 11:06