BVDL MEN

After finishing the regular season with two losses, the Sabres enter this game low on confidence and struggling to find form.  Knox however have won three straight matches and sealed the Minor Premiership with victory over Kilsyth last weekend.  Simon Grant is having a sensational season for the Raiders this year and is one player the Sabres will need to stop if they are to secure the upset.  Sandringham has a quality back court with Batish, Uzelac and Vahala all capable of high scoring games. Knox has defeated Sandringham in all three matches this season, but they have decreased in the margin in all three attempts. 

Kilsyth only lost four games for the season, but two of those losses were against this week’s opponent which is sure to worry coach Rod Popp.  Dandenong has had success at Kilsyth already this year defeating the Cobras at home by 1pt in rd10.  Kilsyth have relied heavily on Smit, Reinbott and MVP candidate Brazier this season, so all three will need to produce a high quality game this week.  Dandenong has a wealth of talent in the team, but will need a strong game from Dukes and Gaze.  Neither team has made the Grand Final in D League competition, but Dandenong has Coach Duncan Berg in charge who took Nunawading to the 2010 title

BVDL WOMEN

Nunawading have been the dominant team of the competition all season and deserve the Minor Premiership.  Megan Moody has put together a great season in her first year as coach of the Young Lady Braves.  Bendigo started the year with a new group of girls and has had an outstanding season to finish fourth.  The Spectres have a potent frontcourt rotation with Whittle, Smith, Wannan, Mattinson and Blackmore which is sure to trouble Bendigo this week.  Nunawading have won all three games this season by an average margin of 13pts and will enter this game as high priced favourites having gone undefeated at home this year.

Both teams have played off for the Championship the past two years, but only one team will make the Grand Final this year.  Dandenong has had a number of injuries throughout the year so has done an exceptional job to finish second and host the final this week.  Dandenong has an experienced starting five with Deery, Lovelace, Vandenberg, Whatman and Martin all capable of producing high scoring and quality performances.  Dandenong hold a 2-1 advantage over the Raiders this year but only beat them by 3pts in the last encounter in round 9.