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Senior men’s game to take place on Saturday 10th September, beginning at 2:30pm unless specified.
A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.
Tooradin-Dalmore vs Phillip Island @ Garfield Recreation Reserve – click here for selected sides
Have the planets perfectly aligned for Tooradin-Dalmore or will Phillip Island’s constellation of stars become a cataclysmic force when the Seagulls and Bulldogs collide in the WGFNC grand final at Garfield on Saturday?
Breaking the Seagulls’ 25-year drought is going to be an astronomical task against a Bulldogs outfit that seem magnetised to the biggest show on earth.
Injuries to the Bulldogs’ skipper, and arguably best midfielder, Jaymie Youle, and premium defender Daniel Pearce, both in the latter part of the season, have meant a new formation of stars was required.
And last week’s preliminary final win over Warragul Industrials, while one to be savoured, has to be factored in when looking into the horizon.
The Seagulls sat back and watched as the Bulldogs played a brutal four-quarters of football, then two periods of extra-time, in one of the most dramatic finishes seen in this part of the universe.
Gillespie loved it…to the moon and back… but is wary of the positives and negatives.
“It could go either way, they will believe it gives them belief and connection, and provides a real wave of momentum and emotion that they will play off,” he said.
“But they’ve also played another really tough game, and that’s tough both physically and mentally.
“Obviously we hope it has taken a toll, but the only thing I can control is us and making sure our processes are right and making sure we’re in the best position to go out and perform for four quarters.
“If we do that, we’re pretty confident we will acquit ourselves well.”
Gillespie says his confidence stems from solid systems and structures, and a healthy list to execute those plans.
“I think we’ve got a pretty healthy list, we’ve got our ones and twos in a grand final, which is a fantastic asset to have, having a full squad at training,” he said.
“And with the break we’ve had the ability to get our boys right and put time into our game as well.”
Phillip Island coach Beau Vernon will step down after the grand final, with this week’s game seeming an added bonus after his Doggies looked dead and buried against the Dusties last week.
It’s that emerging talent, and balance across the board, that gives Vernon hope that he could sign off in the best possible fashion.
“(Brendan) Kimber and Cam (Pedersen) are great players, but they’re in their mid30’s and we shouldn’t be relying on those blokes for us to play our best football,” Vernon said.
“They’ve led the ship over the years but we need these young blokes coming through and playing their part.
“They’re intimidating figures those two because they’re such good players, and have been such good players, but the younger blokes have realised they really need to step up, and we need them too for us to be successful.
Vernon is under no illusion as to the task at hand.
“No doubt they’ve been far and away the best team in the league, they haven’t won a flag in 25 years and there’s going to be a lot of pressure on those blokes,” Vernon said.
“They really want to win and I’ve been in that position at Leongatha, we’ve been a successful club and haven’t won a flag for a long time, so there’s pressure there. But no doubt they’re an awesome side and we’ll need everything to go our way.”
Gillespie heaped praise on this opponent in equal doses.
“They very rarely lose games of footy, and they just fight it out every time,” Gillepsie said.
“He’ll change things up and we fully expect them to come out and throw absolutely everything at us.
“They’ll give everything; they don’t just give away games, particularly big ones like this.
“To underestimate them would be a silly thing to do.”
Gillespie said winning a premiership, and joining past coaching greats like Billy Morrison, 50 years ago, and Jon Gahan, 25, would mean the world to him, but not as much as his club.
“It would be huge, it would be a great honour to be connected in some way with those coaches…it would be an amazing honour,” he said.
“But I keep saying it, and I truly mean it, it would be such a great thing for the club more than anything else.
“For the players it’s fantastic, but for the whole community at Tooradin, the whole club, it would be more special and that’s where I would probably get most out of it.”
Match review via Pakenham Gazette, written by David Nagel.
There is no radio coverage of these games.
Live stream coverage from Red Onion Creative will be available via YouTube from 2:10pm. Click here for the link.
Senior men’s game to take place on Saturday 10th September, beginning at 2:10pm unless specified.
A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Neerim South vs Ellinbank @ Darnum Recreation Reserve – click here for selected sides
Senior men’s game to take place on Saturday 10th September, beginning at 2:20pm unless specified.
A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Wonthaggi vs Sale @ Morwell Recreation Reserve – click here for selected sides
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 game to take place on Saturday 10th September, beginning at 2:45pm unless specified.
A preview of this round’s games can be read via Warragul Drouin Gazette here.
Newborough vs Yinnar @ Ronald Reserve, Morwell East – click here for selected sides
Live stream coverage from MDR Digital Images will be available via the Mid Gippsland FNL YouTube Channel from 10:15am. Click here for the link.
Radio coverage of this game will be available via Gippsland FM 104.7 FM from 2pm.
Senior men’s game takes place on Saturday 10th September, beginning at 2:30pm unless specified.
Traralgon Tyers United vs Yallourn-Yallourn North @ Gordon St Reserve, Heyfield – click here for selected sides
After being the hunted all season long Yallourn Yallourn North go into this week’s NGFNL Grand Final against Traralgon Tyers United as the hunter.
A near perfect home-and-away season by the Jets, one that that saw them drop just a single game, was all but negated when TTU obliterated them in the second semi-final two weeks ago. That YYN were able to regroup after that loss and then overcome a three-quarter time deficit in the Preliminary Final against Woodside to win their way through to the last game of the season says plenty about their character.
The fact they were down at that stage of the game though says plenty about their recent form – advantage TTU. I note at the time of typing this, Jane Bunn and her mates at the BOM are predicting a damp end to the week and it is likely that the GF will be played in similar conditions to the second-semi – advantage TTU. Come the selection table Thursday night TTU will have a near-full list to choose from, with the unlucky Tom Fleming one of the few unavailable because of injury.
If the Bombers’ brains trust want to add some height to the side they can go to Tim Hendricken. He slotted a bag in the Reserves second-semi so is in good form. If they want to add some experience they can call upon former skipper and swing-man Guy Sinclair, who also missed the senior second semi win – advantage TTU. Meanwhile at YYN they will be without Jai Massese – a favourite for their best and fairest – injured. They may also be without Bard Paulet, best on ground in their losing second-semi effort, injured. And while likely to play, Dean MacDonald, he who has slotted the lazy eight off goals for the season, limped off Churchill’s Gaskin Park after the Prelim win – advantage TTU.
A quick look at the form line when these sides have met this year shows us YYN had a seven-point win over TTU in round seven, when the Bombers were coming off a bye, followed by a whopping 71-point win in Round 18 when both sides knew their finals fate and there was little for which to play.
When all the cards were on the table however and a spot in the premiership decider was on the line, TTU flipped those results on their head and smacked the then-flag favourites by eight goals. Were it not for three junk-time goals when the game was all over it would have been near on a 12-goal margin to Jamie Aitkens’ men in red and black.
There are massive match ups all over the ground. In the Jets front half you will see Zac Kilgower run around with Keenan Hughes, Justin Barnes on Dean MacDonald and, surely a defensive forward such as Josh Keyhoe on TTU’s
dangerous centre half back Jack Brown. At the other end Campbell Maclnnes will renew his acquaintances with Brad Kelleher and after a best-on-ground performance when these sides last met Stu Goddard, he of the Rambo hair, will have plenty of attention on him with perhaps wily old veteran Owen Budge tasked with shutting him down.
Without Massese on the park for YYN James DeVirgilio, Dylan Bath, Lachy Little and Tindara Hood will carry a huge load in the middle. They will see any or all of both Jacobsens, Hayden Willaton, TTU skippers Mustoe and Nielson and even Jayden Cutts run through the middle against them. The Bombers were unable to take advantage of Alan Norris’s ruck work when these sides last met but will absolutely need to do so if they are a chance to over-turn that result.
Match review via Latrobe Valley Express, written by Scott Berechree
There is no radio or live stream coverage for this game.
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