GRAND FINAL PREVIEWS – Saturday 26th September

 

Written by Michael Shillito

 

We’ve made it to the business end of the season. For a while there was uncertainty if footy would be played at all this year. But with the combined efforts of players, officials and most of all, club volunteers, we managed to get a season in. Albeit a different looking season, there’s definitely some premiership glory worth striving for.

Saturday at Rosedale Oval sees the first four premiership titles up for grabs.

 

Under 19s Division Two

First up for the weekend is the Under 19s Division Two decider, where Southern Power take on Sydney Uni.

Southern Power have been the standout team in this division this season, dropping only one game in the regular season to finish top of the ladder; and then defeating the Goannas by 40 points in their Semi Final last week.

In a Grand Final, getting a winning score on the board is important. Keep an eye on Josh Moors up forward, who has kicked plenty this season. Around the ground, Jayden Lucas has been a consistent performer and one the Students will need to keep quiet.

Sydney Uni were second after the regular season, winning six from eight; and continued on their winning ways with a 42-point Semi Final win over North Shore to make it through to the big dance.

The Students have shared the goal-kicking around, with no player kicking 10 goals so far this season. Angus Macdougall is a key forward the Power will need to keep quiet. And watch out for Zac Dennis, who has stood up around the ground and consistently got the job done.

The two sides have faced off twice this season already. In round 3 at Rosedale, the Power took out a 9-point win. But the Students turned the tables at Sydney Uni No 1 to get up by 23 and inflict the Power’s only loss of the season. There shouldn’t be much in this one; and the big test of a player’s development is the ability to turn on their best form when it matters most.

Prediction – Southern Power by 6 points.

 

Womens Division One

Up next is the Womens Division One Grand Final. It’s a battle of the West played in the West; as Parramatta Goannas take on Camden Cats.

The Goannas have been the standout team in this division all season, finishing the regular season undefeated with an enormous percentage. But they had a scare in last week’s Semi Final, and had to come from behind to overcome North Shore by six points.

Maddy Finch has spearheaded the charge for the Goannas, accumulating a whopping 45 goals so far in this shortened season; and the Cats defenders will have work to do to keep her quiet. Around the ground, Annaleise Barton has been a standout, getting the better of her opposition week in week out.

Camden were second after the home and away season, dropping two games. They then had to fight all the way in a tightly-contested war of attrition in their Semi Final against Randwick City, getting up by just four points.

If the Cats are to launch a challenge, they will need to get a score on the board. Lauren Bragg will have a key role to play, looking to add to her 21 goals so far this year. Also watch out for Jenna Steele, who has stood and delivered with regularity this season.

They have played each other once this season, in the last round of the regular season. On that occasion the Goannas were too good, recording a comfortable 56-point win. This one should be closer, and the Cats will throw everything they have at this contest. But the Goannas look to have too much skill around the ground, and it would be a major upset if they were not to get it done when it matters most.

Prediction – Parramatta by 24 points.

 

Platinum Division Reserves

The third Grand Final of the day is Platinum Reserves, which will see Macquarie Uni take on Southern Power.

The Warriors finished minor premiers with six wins from eight games. They built some great momentum in the Semi Final, when they dominated against Penrith from start to finish to record a convincing 123-point win.

Simon Read has been a consistent performer on the Macquarie Uni forward line, and the Power defenders will have their hands full to keep him quiet. Also watch out for John-Paul Canavan, who has got the job done consistently through the season and will be looking to maintain his momentum into the competition decider.

Southern Power were second after the regular season, five wins from seven games and with a better percentage than the Warriors; and a washout may have cost them top spot. They then made their way into the Grand Final with a 48-point Semi Final win against Parramatta.

In the quest for a winning score, Harry Tattersall will play a key role, and will be looking to add to the 20 goals he has kicked so far this season. The Power have had plenty of key contributors around the ground and no shortage of players capable of stepping up when it matters. Watch out for Hunter Gregory, who has been a consistent performer throughout the season.

Already this season these clubs have faced off twice. In the opening round of the season at Macquarie Uni, it was the Power who prevailed by 37 points. And it was again a win for the away team when the met again at Waratah Oval, with the Warriors getting up by 7. This time we’re on neutral territory. This contest looks evenly matched and should go down to the wire. Expect a thriller.

Prediction – Macquarie Uni by 2 points.

 

Platinum Division Grand Final

The last premiership cup for the day is Platinum Division; which will see Penrith Rams take on Southern Power. This is the third season of Platinum Division’s existence. The Rams won it in 2018, the Power won it last year. One of them will take their second title.

Unlike the other Grand Finals on the card, which saw the top two teams go through their Semi Finals, this match sees third take on fourth after the top two teams were unable to back up their regular season performances in the sudden death Semi Finals.

Penrith were third after the regular season, with six wins from nine games. But their experience at the business end of the season held them in good stead in the Semi Final, when they edged out Balmain by 10 points.

The Rams will be depending on Phillip Aumann to step up on the forward line, as he has throughout the season. And keep an eye on Brayden Wilson, who has featured prominently around the ground so often in 2020 and will be looking to do so again in the game that matters most.

For Southern Power, their premiership defence was looking shaky early on; with back to back losses to start the season and a washout in round 4. But they hit their straps as the season unfolded, dropping only one more game to make their way into the top four. And in the knockout Semi Final, they built up more momentum with a 37-point win over minor premiers Macquarie Uni to make it into the competition decider.

When looking for some forward firepower, the Power found a winner in the Semi Final with Nick Salter’s eight-goal haul; and he will again be looking to add another big bag of goals this time. And in general play, a player to watch is Thomas Van Greunsven, who has got it done more often than not in 2020.

The teams have met twice during the regular season. The first meeting in round 2 saw the Rams take out an away win when they got up by 11 points at Waratah Oval. But fortunes were reversed in round 8, when the Power got up by 50 points at Greygums. There shouldn’t be much in this one, but the Power have built some handy momentum after a slow start this season and are in red-hot form.

Prediction – Southern Power by 8 points.

 

Covid-19 Protocols and Ticketing

To enable AFL Sydney to effectively implement and operate a COVID safety plan, Grand Final days will be ticketed to ensure crowd numbers stay at or under 500 at any time. Tickets are not available to the general public and will not be issued on the gate. The only tickets available have been allocated to each competing team which they will share among players, officials and spectators. Entry into the venue will only be permitted to ticket holders. Contact your club for more information on how to secure a ticket, otherwise you can stream all the action live on our Facebook page.

 

Click here to view the AFL Sydney Grand Finals Broadcast Information

 

 

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