This season’s minor premier Neerim Neerim South will meet Buln Buln in the 2022 Parklea EDFNL grand final at Yarragon on Saturday. The Cats having not won a premiership since 1999 will be out to redress its ordinary finals record since then while the Lyrebirds will be seeking their 11th flag and first since they won the 2014 East division premiership on what will be an exciting day of football.
SENIORS – BULN BULN v NEERIM SOUTH
Head to Head in 2022
Round 1 – Neerim Neerim South 7.6.48 defeated Buln Buln 3.15.33
Round 12 – Buln Buln 3.13.31 lost to Neerim Neerim South 7.8.50
Second Semi Final – Neerim Neerim South 4.10.34 lost to Buln Buln 7.7.49
TOP 5 LEADING GOALKICKERS PER CLUB
BULN BULN NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
Hayden Baker 35 Chris Urie 64
Sam Batson 27 Lachlan Bambridge 63
Cam McPhan 17 Luke Kinder 58
Bob McCallum 17 Kody Wilson 30
Matt Gray 15 Tyssen Morrow 17
Neerim South have been by far the best offensive team this year and Buln Buln (while statistically 2nd) can mount a strong argument it is the best defensive team. The Cats forward potency is led by Chris Urie, Lachlan Bambridge and Luke Kinder while the Lyrebirds strong back six resilience is largely due to Shaun Beecroft, Tom Axford, Jake Herbel and Brandon Allen. An enticing sideshow to the main event will be the ruck contest. While Buln Buln’s Bob McCallum and Matt Gray are without doubt the best ruck duo in the league; in recent week’s spring heeled Neerim South youngster Lachlan Guy has proved to be a revelation and if he can neutralise the influence of the veteran ruck duo he will play a big role in the Cats fortunes. The x-factor for Buln could be Sam Langford. They have been a much better side since his return in round 19. Midfield two of the elite league midfielders Trent Baker and Kody Wilson will cross paths and another match up that could shape the result. Neerim will be hoping ruck rover Isaac Fuller, a prime mover this year and who has missed the last two matches will return from injury – if so his presence could make the difference. Alex Johnson, Matt Edwards, Tom Gill and Tom Muir have all impressed behind centre over the last fortnight and will make things difficult for the Lyrebird forwards.
Buln Buln go into the match with nine wins in a row. It harasses teams into submission. When both met in the 2nd semi Buln brought real heat to the contest in the opening quarter and took Neerim by surprise. Thereafter the Cats did not lose a quarter. On the premise this time around the Cats will be better prepared on two fronts; the experience of last weeks good win over the in form Ellinbank and it will be more clued up about its opposition this time around Neerim South should enter the match marginal favourites.
RESERVES – ELLINBANK v BULN BULN
This clash should go down to the wire based on recent results. To recap in the 2ND Semi Ellinbank beat Neerim South by 3 points. In the Preliminary final Buln Buln beat Neerim South by 5 points and with the last goal of the match – by Adam Rakip who kicked the Lyrebirds last two goals and three for the match and will be a key forward for the Lyrebirds along with Rick McKerrow
(31 goals this year) and Bryce Monahan (25 goals). Ball magnet Brendan Wall could well be the difference. For Ellinbank Jaxon Notman and the experienced Jayson and Sam Barwick, David Miller, Andrew Quirk and Kristian Bingham have all been the mainstays of the Eagles success this season and will have a big say in the result.
U18s – NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH v LONGWARRY
This match also shapes as a thriller. In the 2nd Semi-final Neerim South won a heart stopper by 3 points over Longwarry. The Cats have dominated all season with its most notable player Matt Roberts kicking 100 goals but he is unlikely to play as he played in the seniors in recent weeks and likely to retain his spot in the firsts. Longwarry will also miss one of its rising stars Fintan Fox due to a leg injury. For the Cats captain Ayden Ramm, ruck Blake Appleby, defender Tom Zeldrynk and key forward Jack Williames will play a pivotal role and for Longwarry ruckman Lachie Spinks, captain Harry Colvin and Ned Ashton will be a driving force and vice-captain Dom Keane who has kicked nine goals over the final series a key forward.
U16s – LONGWARRY v YARRAGON
The young Crows and the Panthers will kick off grand final day. Plenty of players in this match look bound for a bright future at senior level in the upcoming years. Both met in the 2nd Semi Final. On that day Longwarry jumped Yarragon in the first quarter and won soundly by 48 points. For the Panthers Ian Cooper medallist Darcy Paul, pacy midfielder Liam Smith Butterworth, Ty Keeble, Kyson Cornwall and Andrew Daly have all offered strong performances this year and for Longwarry Josh Downes, Cooper Brown, Clancy Pope, Seth and Jack Knights will all play a pivotal.
SELECTIONS (Capitalised – Grand Final day)
U16s – LONGWARRY v Yarragon
U18s – Neerim South v LONGWARRY
RESEERVES – ELLINBANK v Buln Buln
SENIORS – NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH v Buln Buln
Last Modified on 15/09/2022 15:48