Under 18’s          Two fantastic sides with excellent first year coaches Paul NEWMAN and Clint DUDGEON. It is not unusual that Shepp & Ky are playing off for today’s flag as since 1966 these two clubs have virtually had a monopoly on the premiership cup. Shepp. have won 15 flags in 45 years plus being runners-up on 3 occasions – not bad eh?   Ky’s record is not bad either :- Ky have won 9 flags in the same period and also been runners-up 9 times. Since 1966 this is the 5^th time these two have competed for the flag. Incidentally; Shepp are playing for a hat-trick of Under 18 flags, defeating Rochy by 83 points in 2010 & United by 38 points last year. And, I believe if Shepp win and if Tom THORSEN plays for the Bears “Thorso” will create a record of his own as we believe he will be the first Under 18 player to play in three Under 18 premierships in our League. Today is the third time these teams have met this year – the first at Ky in Round 9; the Bombers won 10.10 (70) to Shepp 6.6 (42) – next was a fortnight ago again at Ky in the 2^nd semi; the Bears won by 27 points to go straight into today’s game. Last week Ky had to draw on every ounce of energy to stave of Benalla to win by just one point by Ky kicking 3 goals 2 into the stiff breeze in the last quarter whereas the Benalla boys only kicked 3 goals one behind with the wind. Pattison Medallist Hayden GEMMILL kicked 3 and played at his medal winning form. He and the HOLMAN lads Nicholas and Thomas with Luke MANGAN, Riley BACON and Brad RYAN and all the other young Bombers will have to be at their absolute best to knock over Shepp who will be cherry ripe.   The selection ??   Shepparton to achieve the hat-trick.

Reserves             Tigers v Cats     Since 1950 the Mooroopna Reserves have won 4 flags and been the runners-up twice. Rochy are as yet to win a GVFL Reserves premiership but have been in the big dance on twice. Rochy Reserves have had an outstanding year going through undefeated until losing at Tatura in the Qualifying Final against Mooroopna – 11.8 (74) to 12.12 (84). In the only other clash between these two it was back in Round 8, at Mooroopna when Rochy won 11.10 (76) to 7.8 (50). Mooroopna defeated Tatura at Ky a fortnight ago by 9 points to do direct into today’s game. Rochy defeated Seymour at Seymour in the 1^st Semi by 22 points and then accounted for Tatura at Deakin last Sunday by 38 points.   Last game the Cats played, 14 out of their 22 players have played Senior footy – last week out of Rochy’s 22, 12 players have played in the Tigers Seniors. During the Home & Away season the Tigers have kicked 98 points more than the Cats and had 141 points less kicked against them that the Cats. The tip ??   The Tigers to create history and win their first GVFL Reserves flag with Nathan WHIPP, Brodie MONTAGUE, Clayton ZANELLA, Adam WARD, Tim LETCHER, Daniel CAVALLARO and Mark EMMERSON leading the way.

Seniors                 How ironic that Bulldogs Coach Steve DANIEL coached the Lions Coach Bernie HABERMAN to the 2005 & 2006 Premierships and that today is both their final game as Coach of their respective sides (for the time being) And; don’t forget that Bernie has been there, done that before today as coach of the Premiership side because he did that in 2007. His team that day included Joffa & Jake ANDERSON, Brendan LIDDELL, Brent COLBERT, Saad SAAD, Matty & Tim O’KEEFE, Adam REID, Shane SCHOTTNER and Ben CLIFTON. And now, you throw in Brent COLBERT’s little brother Paul, Robbie DOUGLAS, Gerard LIDDELL, Josh PRUDDEN, Willie WHEELER and most improved big man Brandyn GRENFELL. (Apologies to those Lions not named). This promises to be an absolute great game with the most improved team (Lions) up against the year’s best team (Bulldogs). Hard as you may look, you cannot find a weakness in either line-up – fantastic experience and leadership with highly skilled and tenacious youngsters. Excitement, strength and toughness, hard at the ball, no beg pardons. Centre and around ground clearances to be won, the discipline. KIRBY and WELLINGTON with BROADBENT and CRAWFORD, Leigh OWEN and TREWIN. The Bulldogs pups; how good have they been? Jayden YOUNG, Tommy DURWARD, Buffa RYAN, Billy HICKS, the SULLIVANS?   Tat have had a fortnight off courtesy of their 3 goal win over Shepp United in the 2^nd semi and they did that without Justin MURPHY – Seymour have defeated Mooroopna by 9 points up at Echuca 3 weeks ago, spanked Rochy at Seymour by 11 goals a fortnight ago & overcome Shepp United last week at this ground by 6 goals.   The tip ??    Third Time Lucky Lions!! Shane SCHOTTNER will be playing his 299^th club game for his beloved Lions today, Gerard LIDDELL is playing his 99^th – Bernie is relinquishing the coaching reigns, Schotty plans to travel – the Lions are on a roll – a big roll with huge momentum and a very gritty determined resolve. Round 4 at Tat on 5^th May the Bulldogs won 18.9 (117) to Seymour’s 13.2 (80) – Billy HICKS kicked 4, Steve SHAW kicked 3 but there is a huge cloud over Steve whether he plays. Saady kicked 4 that day with Jake ANDERSON slotting 3. The re-match at Kings Park on 4^th August Tatura won again, 16.13 (109) to the Lions 13.9 (87) - Cam TREWIN kicked 6 for the Bullies – Saad 5 for the Lions. Shannon BROADBENT was best for Tat, Adrian McCARTHY was best for Seymour. A magnificent month by Seymour to think back for a week or two in August there was some doubt whether they would play finals and now here they are chasing their 8^th G.V.F.L. Premiership Flag. Make no mistake about the Bulldogs though because they are hungry for success; they have just one more box to tick to win their 6^th GVFL Senior flag since 1919. My tip for the Wilf COX Medal >>>> Brent COLBERT – my tip for the VCFL Medal >>>>> Saad SAAD!  My tip for the flag – Seymour!