By RHYS WOOSNAM - Division 3 Seniors
AFTER 21 weeks of ups and downs, thrills and spills, thrashings and nail-biters, and of incredibly competitive football, it all comes down to just two teams. On September 9, Parkside and Tarneit will battle it out for the ultimate glory.
Tarneit will enter the final game of 2017, having bested second place Wyndham Suns by 29-points in a tense preliminary final on Sunday afternoon. The match was played in less than stellar conditions, but this didn’t stop the competitiveness and passion from flowing.
Both clubs had so much to play for, having missed out on the flag in 2016.
Tarneit were able to break away in the last quarter, after holding an 11-point lead at the final break. The win was a slight upset considering the Suns held ascendancy on the ladder, but Tarneit would not be held back from clinching a Grand Final berth.
They will enter the big dance with definite match fitness and momentum. Back to back finals where they were challenged for the majority of the contest will help them face their biggest test. A powerhouse called the Parkside Football Club.
The Magpies have enjoyed the luxury of having a week off whilst also getting a good look at their final opposition for the season.
Heading into the Grand Final, Parkside have been the frontrunners for pretty much the entirety of the year and deservedly so.
Sixteen wins from 18 regular season matches and a monstrous percentage of 245%. That stat line alone would be enough to strike fear in any opponent, but their real power comes from their ruthlessness and unpredictability.
Sure, Jason Cloke has been the standout attacking option, winning the league goalkicking with currently 115 majors. However the Magpies have an underrated supporting cast in attack, with Chris Muratore and Brent Kelly kicking 27 goals apiece and Jack Collard chipping in with 24.
If there is a hint of rain, the Grand Final could be a low-scoring slugfest, and a goal or two from Parkside’s lesser lights could be the deciding factor.
Tarneit will go into the biggest game of the year as stark underdogs, but finals can produce miracles. September is the time when heroes are born and legends stamp their place in football history. Anything is possible, and Tarneit will be keeping that mantra in the back of their minds come Saturday.
SUNS UPSET TITANS TO BOOK GRAND FINAL SPOT
By BEN CARDWELL - Division 3 Reserves
IN what could possibly be the upset of the season, Wyndham have jumped into the Grand Final for the Division 3 Reserves after they vanquished Tarneit at Wyndhamvale on Sunday.
Parkside and Tarneit have been clear favourites for the Grand Final all season, but the Suns will challenge for the premiership on Saturday after comfortably defeating Tarneit by 38-points.
Tarneit kicked the first two goals of the game, but a strong charge from the Suns gave them control for the rest of the game.
The Suns moved the ball well and were extremely efficient in defence, with composed kicking from backman leading to pinpoint passes to midfielders and quick rebound 50s.
Tarneit, on the other hand, were repeatedly sloppy, dropping marks, missing targets and were often flummoxed by the strong crosswind that defined the game.
Dylan Hinge bettered his four goals last week to slot five this week, providing the brunt of the goalkicking for Wyndham.
Driver, Downing and Szkudlarkski were amongst the best for the victors, but Christopher Stephens was probably unlucky to miss out after kicking two goals and setting up several for his teammates.
Tim Walton and Eddie Bryson contributed again for Tarneit after their strong outings last week, but will no doubt be saddened with the team’s disappointing end to the season.
In contrast, Wyndham did it the hard way, but will enter the Grand Final with their heads held high and attempt to steal a win against the dominant Parkside.
The two teams met three times during the season, with the Magpies claiming a clean sweep with three wins. Their last game came less than a month ago, at Henry Turner Reserve, where the Suns were handed a 65-point loss to break their six-game win streak.
The season will culminate at Hogan’s Road Oval on Saturday. Both teams have everything to play for on the big day.
Parkside have the chance to go not just back-to-back in the reserves, but also contest for the double premiership, as they feature in the seniors.
Last Modified on 04/09/2017 14:39