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Senior men’s games take place on Saturday 3rd September, beginning at 2:00pm unless specified.

A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.


Phillip Island vs Warragul Industrials @ Dalyston Recreation Reserve – click here for selected sides

Football careers are often judged by three things.

Premierships and best and fairests are quite often at the top of the list, but playing in grand finals is also something special, something unique, a defining moment in a career.

“I won two, but played in five grand finals,” a player might say, proud of what they’ve won but quickly to convey the achievement of playing on football’s biggest day.

It’s what players play for, and what Phillip Island and Warragul Industrials are fighting for when the Bulldogs and Dusties collide in the preliminary final at Dalyston on Saturday.

The Bulldogs go in a hot favourite, courtesy of a 16-win season, compared to the Dusties 10, but if this year’s finals series has taught us one thing…it’s to expect the unexpected.

Three of the four finals so far have been won by the lowest ranked team, with only Tooradin-Dalmore – who wait ominously in the grand final – being able to buck that trend.

The Dusties may have an inferior record, but have serious belief and hope after downing the Bulldogs by 38 points in round 12.

It reversed a five-goal loss to the Bulldogs in round two.

Dusties coach Harmit Singh is a master tactician and his tactical nouse was on full display against Cora Lynn last week.

He first took away the Cobras’ strengths, using sensible and controlled movement of the football to deny the opposition, before making his move offensively.

Dusties champion Shane Brewster is a massive fan of his mentor, who has taken the club from the bottom of the ladder to a prelim

in 31 games…the number on Brewster’s back!

“He doesn’t get flustered or frustrated, he’s very cool, calm and collected, and delivers his message in a way that the guys understand,” Brewster said.

“His structures and processes are beyond anything I’ve seen before and it’s great to have someone like that around the club that can make us improve and take us to a whole new level.

“It takes a while to grasp it, but we’ve had a year and a half with Harmit now and we’re starting to get it right. It does take time, but it’s starting to work and the results are starting to come.”

The win over the Bulldogs, and the Dusties tight contested style of play, gives Brewster hope that another upset could be on the cards.

“I believe its finals football that we play, finals football is always hot, it’s always highly pressured, it’s a highly intense game, really contested football, and that’s the football that we rely on,” he said.

“Coming up against Phillip Island, who has been the best side over the last few years, we go in confident that we can take it up to them.

“If we play the sort of footy that we brought today (against Cora Lynn), we’ve got a sniff of playing in a grand final which would be fantastic.”

Brewster said he is pinching himself about the opportunity, taking place in the latter stages of his career.

“Don’t get me wrong, as you get older it gets harder and sometimes you secondguess yourself about what’s going to happen and where you’re at, but the feeling of finals football brings you back to the real world where you start loving footy again,” he said.

“The weather’s better, there’s a lot of people at games, and it’s the intense footy that I enjoy.

“The fact that we’re in contention to take it out, it just brings new life to me and everyone around the club.”

Despite finishing sixth, the Dusties are clearly no mugs, with Brewster, Will Gibson, Luke Walker, Mason McGarrity, Bailey and Todd Beck, Kyle Beveridge and Kane Oldham leading a very even group into battle.

But this week is a significant step up in class, with the Bulldogs possessing some serious match-winners.

Cam Pedersen, Zak Vernon, Jason Tomada and Brendan Kimber are four stars of the competition, while Jack Taylor will be at his ferocious best after being held goalless against Tooradin last week.

Match review via Pakenham Gazette, written by David Nagel.


There is no live stream or radio coverage of these games.


 


Senior men’s games take place on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th September, beginning at 2:10pm unless specified.

A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.


QUALIFYING FINAL

Neerim South vs Buln Buln @ Lang Lang Sporting Complex, Sat 3rd September – click here for selected sides


SEMI FINAL

Trafalgar vs Ellinbank @ Trafalgar Recreation Reserve, Sun 4th September – click here for selected sides


Radio coverage will be available on SEN Gippsland 91.9 fm Latrobe Valley & 91.3 fm SEN South & West Gippsland or via the SEN App from 2pm.

There is no live stream coverage of these games.


 


Senior men’s games take place on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th September, beginning at 2:20pm unless specified.

A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.


2ND SEMI FINAL

Leongatha vs Wonthaggi @ Ted Summerton Reserve – Moe, Sat 3rd September – click here for selected sides

Forget, if you can, what happened in the match between Leongatha and Wonthaggi at Leongatha on Saturday, July 2 when the Parrots blitzed the Power with a scintillating first-quarter strike of seven goals to nil.
A lot has changed since then and
both clubs have made significant changes in personnel.
Leongatha deserves the right to go
into this Saturday’s Second Semi-Final at Moe as the clear favourites after an unbeaten run to the finals in 2022. They’ve been superb – not only winning like champs at times, but also battling through to win ugly in a topsy-turvy season for all clubs.
The Parrots had five changes from
the side that played Wonthaggi that day to the side they put out in the last round against Drouin, on August 20; Steve Forrester, Jack Ginnane, Ned Hanily, Travis Nash and Aaron Heppell all missing, but with at least some of those expected to return.
Aaron Heppell is one of the keys of
course, working through a foot injury in the latter part of the season. Changes include Josh Hopkins, Jackson Harry, Nick Nagel, Aaron Hillberg, Mason McGannon and Will Dawson.
Wonthaggi had four players missing
from that July 2 side last Saturday in the Qualifying Final at Morwell; Jordan Staley, Dean McRae, Josh Schulz and Fergus O’Connor for Travis Krause, Troy Harley, Will Lenehan and Hunter Tiziani.
Clearly Troy Harley, who kicked
seven on Saturday against Sale, makes a big difference but the other changes, forced or otherwise, have had an impact on Wonthaggi’s form too.
The condition of Wonthaggi ball
magnet Mitch Hayes, after injury on Saturday, is unknown, but will also be key to Wonthaggi’s hopes in this weekend’s clash.

Match preview via South Gippsland Sentinel Times.


1ST SEMI FINAL

Sale vs Traralgon @ Traralgon Recreation Reserve, Sun 4th September – click here for selected sides

Match preview of this game can be found via Gippsland Times here.


Radio coverage will be available via TRFM Gippsland Live 99.5 FM Latrobe Valley & 99.9 FM East Gippsland.

Games will be available to live stream via Cluch TV.


 


Senior men’s games take place on Saturday 3rd September, beginning at 2:20pm unless specified.

A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.


PRELIMINARY FINAL

Tarwin vs Yinnar @ Yinnar Recreation Reserve, Sat 3rd September – click here for selected sides


Live stream coverage from MDR Digital Images will be available via the Mid Gippsland FNL YouTube Channel from 2:20pm. Click here for the link.

There is no radio coverage of this game.


 


Senior men’s game takes place on Saturday 3rd September, beginning at 2:15pm unless specified.


PRELIMINARY FINAL

Yallourn-Yallourn North vs Woodside @ Gaskin Park, Churchill – click here for selected sides


Radio coverage of this game will be available via Gippsland FM 104.7 FM from 2pm.

There is no live stream for this game.


 


Senior men’s games takes place on Saturday 3rd September, beginning at 2:15pm

Match preview of this game can be viewed via Gippsland Times here.


Stratford vs Wy Yung @ Bairnsdale City Oval – click here for selected sides

Youth, speed and skill, or grit, strength and determination – what combination are you taking?
That’s the question onlookers will have watching Wy Yung take on Stratford in this Saturday’s East Gippsland football grand final.
The Tigers have exposed opposition with their mix of young talent, outside run and spread and clean ball use. In the first quarter of their semi final against Stratford it was on full display – 20 minutes in and the game looked headed in the direction of a Wy Yung domination.
That was until the Swans found their rhythm, which came on the back of an unwavering will.
In a blink of an eye a 42-point deficit turned into a small lead. From there an enthralling battle ensued – Wy Yung’s class matched by Stratford’s desire, the latter of which won out in an epic semi final.
This Saturday at Bairnsdale City Oval the two vastly different combatants battle for premiership glory – what attributes will shine on the biggest stage?
Despite Stratford’s semi final triumph, the Tigers have every reason to be confident having beaten the Swans comfortably three times during the home and away season. Finals bring a greater pressure, however Wy Yung coach Doug Vickers will continue to drive his team-first ethos which has served the Tigers so well. They responded with aplomb in last Saturday’s prelim against Lindenow.
The Swans may not have the even spread of talent Wy Yung possesses, however it has match winners in different forms. So where will the game be won?
The question Vickers will be asking about his defenders – who gets the job on Swans’ spearhead Haydn Erfurth? The Stratford full forward kicked six goals and was the difference during the semi final. He had multiple opponents and for the second half dealt with two Tigers defenders at times. Even then he created contests and spillages while keeping Wy Yung’s defence on edge. But who will get first crack? Young gun Jobe Somerville, or wily veteran Daniel Perrin, versatile Mitch Dewar? Wy Yung has options, but who is most suitable?
Erfurth will hit the scoreboard, the Tigers must accept that, but how will they limit his influence? A team effort will be required, however there will be times Erfurth finds himself in one-on-ones. The Stratford gun also gets great support from hard-working small forward, Rodney O’Keefe, who smartly creates time and space for his side’s main target. He too can impact the scoreboard and will be marked closely.
The other player who can cause the Tigers issues forward of centre is Jack Bacon. The high half forward is equally as dangerous in the air and on the ground, is tough, agile and has speed. He will spend time in the midfield, however can be the key link player in Stratford’s scoring chains and has a knack for bobbing up at important times.
Wy Yung has fantastic rebound from half back through the likes to Mitch Toms, Jack and Alex Halabut, Perrin and Dylan Somerville, but it will matter little if the ball is flying in deep to Stratford’s main men. This is an area Wy Yung must win.
While Stratford sets up more traditionally in attack, Wy Yung has shown great versatility – big man Brad Daniel can be the key target out of the goal square, or it could be smaller, quicker targets, Luke Elia, Brodie Anderson, or Harry Kellow. The Tigers’ small men combined for six semi final goals and have booted 98 goals between them for the season. Daniel has kicked 47 himself – the Tigers have multiple avenues to goal and the key target changes constantly.
How does Stratford quell Wy Yung’s multiple options? In the semi final it came down to grit, not allowing the speedy forwards time and space, instead creating a contested battle, which was also helped by a midfield unit which began to turn the tide.
The Swans are blessed to have the presence of Jesse Broadbent, coach Jarryd Clohesy and Gavin Bickery to steady a wayward ship, however the weight of forward 50 entries could weigh the veterans down. Stratford cannot allow the Tigers another quarter like the first in the semi because they won’t keep the door ajar for another comeback like that again.
The engine room is where most finals are won and that will be the case once again. While both teams have outstanding attacking players, if the ball isn’t inside 50, scoring becomes extremely difficult.
Stratford has the power and strength – think league best and fairest ruckman, Lincoln Toner, Reggie Tait, Will Webb, Nick French – while Wy Yung has the class, speed, skill, and a touch of toughness, led by Bayden Ashwood and ably backed up by Jock Overend and Norm Betts.
The Tigers wear their opposition down in the midfield – if you don’t win the first clearance, you better win the second, because if a third stoppage is created the Tigers almost certainly have the edge knowing they have the pace and fitness to open the game up.
Stratford’s bigger bodies stood up during a semi final played in heavy conditions. Bairnsdale City Oval may also be heavy this week, however the vast expanses will aid Wy Yung’s ability to find space from stoppages.
The Swans will want a dogfight, and the Tigers will be up for a scrap if required, however will really want to dictate the pace of the game, a game they will want to be fast.
Two weeks ago it was Wy Yung’s premiership to lose, however since slipping up in the semi final the betting gurus won’t be as keen to cement the Tigers as favourites – Stratford is more than just a threat, it’s a genuine premiership chance, it may even be the favourite.

Match review via the Bairnsdale Advertiser.


This game will be live streamed via A Kick in the Bush on YouTube. Click here for the link.

There is no radio coverage of this game.


 

DIVISION TWO

Warragul Industrials vs Bass Coast Breakers @ SkyBus Stadium, Frankston on Sunday 4th September at 1.00pm – click here for selected sides


DIVISION THREE

Lang Lang vs Cerberus @ SkyBus Stadium, Frankston on Sunday 4th September at 11.00am – click here for selected sides


All South Eastern Women’s Football Grand Finals will be live streamed via their Facebook Page. Click here for the link.

There is no radio coverage of these games.


 

 

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