DIVISION 2 - SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER - MEADE RESERVE CLAYTON
SENIOR MATCH - HIGHETT FC V BENTLEIGH FC
The Doggies vs the Dees will be an interesting clash tomorrow afternoon as they battle it out for the right to enter the top flight in season 2012. With game styles that almost mirror each other, even the slightest error from either side could cost their team a flag and a Division 1 spot…..
McDONALD REAL ESTATE 2011 DIVISION 2 GRAND FINAL – Saturday 2.30pm @ Meade Reserve, Clayton
Highett vs Bentleigh
HEAD TO HEAD (3-0)
2011 HEAD TO HEAD FORM
Round 1 – Doggies by 40 pts @ the Kennel
Round 8 – Doggies by 1 pt @ Bentleigh Reserve
Qualifying Final – Doggies by 19 pts @ Clayton
The Division 2 Grand Final will be a classic encounter tomorrow afternoon as the Doggies and Dees go to war.
With identical game plans, both sides strengths will be in defence and we will be looking at a low scoring encounter with a very small margin – which means that there will be very little room for error.
The matchups will be hotly contested all over the ground and will be riveting watching for all to see. Let me take you through them across the lines:
Midfield – the ruck contest will be fierce with Dan Marshall the dominant ruckman in Div 2 taking on the ruck combination of Michael ‘chainsaw’ McCullagh and Harry Riewoldt. At ground level the Doggies will rely on the likes of Greg Hoskin, Jacob Nash, Jess Elms, Ben Williamson, coach Trent McMicking and Patrick Irons to give their forwards the scoring opportunities to put a winning score on the board. For the Dees, the Feddersen brothers (Mark & Chris), the Murphy brothers (Ryan and Kade), Kyle Swinden, skipper Scott Lawry and Scott Sice will be doing likewise.
Up forward, the Doggies will look to get most of their scoring opportunities from Daniel Sgambelloni, Jay Baker, Simon McMicking and James Dowling as the Dees steadfast defence of James Robertson, Luke Forrest, Paul Magnifico and Chris Fidler try to maintain their reputation of the strongest defence in Division 2.
In the Dees forward 50, they will be aiming towards Ilya Fridman and Alan Hendry to take some big grabs while at ground level Tom Backman and Ryan ‘Swiv’ Heywood will be dangerous. They will have to score at both ends against the miserly Doggies defence of Pat Singh, Peter Poelsma, Tim Blackwood and Luke Dermott.
The support cast will also be important as both sides will only be as strong as their weakest link tomorrow afternoon.
For the Doggies, Beau Jedd, Paul Tinsley, Lachlan McIntosh and Jake Ellen will all have a say in the result. The Dees list is equally deep with Brody Lawford, Andrew Lee, Charlie McFadden, Luke Holmesby and Mark Ferris also will be keen to have a bearing on the outcome.
Either way you look at tomorrow's Premiership decider, it will be a thrilling contest that will include all the swings and roundabouts you would expect from a Grand Final showdown.
In what will be a close encounter, the Doggies will triumph in a heart stopper by 7 points.
DIVISION 1 - SUNDAY 25 SEPTEMBER - SPRINGVALE RESERVE
SENIOR MATCH - EAST BRIGHTON FC V ST PAULS FC
VAMPIRES vs DOGGIES – The top 2 sides of 2011 play off for the title of Premier & Champion of the SFL in a fitting finale…..
McDONALD REAL ESTATE 2011 DIVISION 1 GRAND FINAL – Sunday 2.30pm @ Springvale Reserve
East Brighton vs St Pauls East Bentleigh
HEAD TO HEAD (2-1)
2011 HEAD TO HEAD FORM
Round 1 – Doggies by 68 pts @ the Kennel
Round 10 – Vampires by 59 pts @ Hurlingham Park
2nd Semi Final – Vampires by 35 pts @ Springvale Reserve
The Vampires and Bloods have not seen the best of each other in 2011 with the minor premiers holding a 2-1 advantage in the head to head clashes. The Vampires loss in Round 1 was an aberration, proven as they followed that with a 15 game winning streak – including the Round 10 win against a Doggies side missing 8 of those likely to play in Sunday's clash.
Their most recent clash was in the 2nd Semi Final a fortnight ago with the Vampires prevailing comfortably, prompting a few ‘home truths’ to be pointed out to a few of the Doggies lineup who responded in resounding fashion last weekend. That sets up an intriguing battle for the Division 1 Premiership Cup on Sunday.
The Vampires will go in as firm favourites, after a 16-2 H&A record. The only player missing from the selection table will be Toby Mahoney who has a fractured collarbone. Taking his place will be Dean Williamson, albeit a little underdone, whose last game was back on August 6. The Doggies, similarly will almost be at full strength with only Trent McIntyre unavailable due to an ankle injury.
The Vampires have discovered a new ruckman in Matthew French who, along with his backup Raj Nair, will have a big say in Sunday's proceedings and they will look to feed the likes of Williamson, Peter Larsen, coach Barry Hope and skipper Ben Douthie with plenty of clearances. In attack, Dean Francis will no doubt be the focal point and with Mark ‘Junior’ Jamieson, Michael Henningsen and Dan Reid circling, the Vampires will be confident of booting a winning score. Their defence is a brick wall – the strongest in the SFL in 2011 – with Liam Bowman, Nathan Stewart, Matt O’Rourke and Cameron Buss ready to rock and roll at the drop of a hat. Sam Widdowson, also in defence is their attacking defender.
The Doggies too have a well rounded lineup and their ruck combination of James Marasco and Andy Gilbert will look to expose the Vampires ruck combo at ground level. The midfield of the Doggies is more experienced with Chad Liddell, skipper Heath Barnes and Peter Mercoulia guiding the younger troops, Matt Kreymborg and Matt Herbstreit. The forward structure of the Doggies will test the Vampires backs as they have multiple avenues to goal with Mark Marasco and Andy Taranto the key targets, Jarryd Allen, Andy Gilbert and Bryce Hayes all capable of kicking a bag. The defensive structure of the Doggies can change without notice and Kenton Hall is the key, along with Nick Gilbert. Owen Lewis and David Wyld are versatile defenders that can also do a shut down role in the midfield while their attacking defender is Sam McGarry whose sublime skills may lead the Vampires to play a negating forward on him to stop his creativity.
With the Premiership Cup up for grabs, we will bear witness to what I predict will be the best Division 1 Grand Final in SFL history, with a single figure margin determining the winner. And accepting the Premiership Cup at 5pm will be the Coach and Captain of the………..
….Vampires – by 8 points (after a toss of the coin)!!!
Previews courtesy of 'THE SHARPSHOOTER' and 'THE MIDFIELDER'!
Last Modified on 10/10/2011 11:50