Longwarry will meet Ellinbank in the 2019 Parklea EDFL Grand Final at Yarragon this Saturday.
Both deserve their spot in the biggest match of the season as they were clearly the two best performed teams.
Should Longwarry win it will be a historic day for the club as it has never won a senior EDFL flag.
Its last premiership was in the West Gippsland Football League in 1968.
The Crows were desperately unlucky last year when runners up to Nyora - losing by only 4 points and in 2014 lost to Buln Buln when the league was split into East and West divisions. Ellinbank while the most successful team in the league since its inception in 1937 has also endured lean times in recent decades having not won a flag since 1995. Longwarry will enter favourites.
Testament to the strength of both clubs this year – both will field three teams on grand final day.
SENIORS – LONGWARRY v ELLINBANK
Head to Head in 2019
Round 8 – Ellinbank 12.15.87 defeated Longwarry 12.2.74
Round 17 – Longwarry 1.4.10 lost to Ellinbank 1.5.11
Second Semi Final – Longwarry 13.10.88 defeated Ellinbank 7.8.50
TOP 5 LEADING GOAL KICKERS PER CLUB
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LONGWARRY
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ELLINBANK
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Braydon McHugh 45
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Mitch Cowan 31
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Tye Holland 43
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Adam Cook 24
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Jedd Serong 36
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Ben Drew 24
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Daniel Fry 36
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Shaun Phelan 23
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Russell Lehman 27
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Mick Urie 22
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For Longwarry its narrow loss in last year’s grand final cut deep. Coach Daniel Fry and his charges believe they have unfinished business until they redeem themselves this Saturday.
The strength of Longwarry sits with its strength across all lines. The class of midfielder Russell Lehman has again played influential role this year. The team to take the field this Saturday looks to have both a better forward line and back six than the 2018 grand final team. The return of Jedd Serong provides an extra forward option while in defence the return of Nick Walsh and the recruitment of Justin McCleary has added a tough edge. Also hard nut ruck rover Nathan Fry was badly missed in last year’s grand final and will be out to do his utmost to make the most of his opportunity.
The ruck clash between Nick Redley and Frank D’Agostino shapes as crucial. If either side can find a player to be a forward x-factor it could make the difference because In all three meetings the defence has dominated.
Both sides will field very experienced teams. Both have five players with well over 200 senior games; For Longwarry Tye Holland, Danny Wells, Daniel Fry, Leigh McDonald and Aaron Serong and for Ellinbank Ash Wallace, Josh Peterson, Steven Ballingall, Mark Johnson & Mick Urie. Incredibly both teams also have another nine players with over 100 games experience – and the majority of these with over 150 matches under their belt.
Given Ellinbank’s experience it should not be overawed but based on their 38 point defeat to the Crows two weeks ago and when they lost all four quarters they may have to make some adjustments to surprise Longwarry. None the less it has quite a few key position players led by its coach Ben Wragg, Tom Johnson and Adam Cook, who on their day can turn a game. Although the later has a tribunal appearance mid-week and should he be suspended it would be a big blow for the Eagles. Busy small Shaun Phelan was terrific last week and also a potential match winner while key defender Mark Vassett can also play as a swingman and pose a few problems for the Crows defence.
Give Ellinbank more chance if it is played in wet weather but hard to not select Longwarry.
RESERVES –ELLINBANK v LONGWARRY
Ellinbank will be favourites to go back to back premiers. This will be a replay of last year’s grand final. The Crows were undefeated this season and with a stunning 600 plus percentage. Ellinbank forwards Matt Robertson (70 goals), James Scammell (42) and Brad Glover (28) have capitalised on the on good feed up field by Ashley Scott and Jayson Barwick (who played in the seniors last week) to name just a few of many midfield drivers. The Crows must still be a big chance. It pushed the Bankers for three quarters in the second-semi before going down by only 15 points. Expect ruckman Ryan Wouters, ruck rover Braydon Munroe, Brody Hamilton and wily forward Glenn Browney to give the Eagles plenty of opposition. No surprise if this game is decided by less than a goal either way.
U/18s – LONGWARRY v POOWONG
This clash also looks like it could go either way. Both finished one-two after the home and away season and with only three losses each. The Crows beat Buln Buln by 33 points in the second –semi-final and the Magpies thrashed the Lyrebirds by 59 points in the preliminary final. Franking that form Poowong enter favourites. Longwarry have livewire forward and 2019 Bill Cumming medallist Trent Kearney (although there is a doubt over a hamstring injury) along with pacy midfielder Bailey Stephens while ruck-forwards Harry Stephens (36 goals) and Angus Adamiak (30 goal) and forward pocket Aden Fox (25) shape as trouble for the Magpies. Poowong has two players in Jai Newcombe and Hayden Wallis that are in red hot form. Newcombe has excelled at senior level this year and Wallis, who has also played seniors this season and has kicked six goals in each of his last two finals. Ruck rover Darcy Lockridge, forward Jackson Barlow and wingman Matt Burr have also impressed this season and players to watch.
U/16s – BULN BULN v ELLINBANK
The Lyrebirds have been the team to beat all season. It will enter favourites on the back of its undefeated record and a 22 point win over the Eagles in the second semi. Buln Buln rover Brendan Wall – the Ian Cooper medal 2019 league best and fairest winner is sure to be prominent along with U16 leading goal kicker Paisarn White (45 goals), half back Max Chesterfield, wingman Matthew Clynes and Flynn Davey (32 goals). Ellinbank will enter confident that it was well and truly in the second semi-final match until the last quarter. Its on ball division led by Ryan Atherton, Bryce Joyce and Jake Achilles has excelled this season and for those spectators who arrive early ones to keep an eye on.
SELECTIONS
U/16s – LONGWARRY v Ellinbank
U/18s – ELLINBANK v Longwarry
RESERVES – Longwarry v POOWONG
SENIORS – BULN BULN v Ellinbank
Last Modified on 12/09/2019 09:56
