Mininera and District Football League/Netball Association grand final day will arrive tomorrow with plenty of local junior teams in action.
Under 16.5
PENSHURST enters the Mininera and District Football League Under-16.5 Grand Final today as odds on favourite against Caramut at Glenthompson Recreation Reserve.
The Bombers only had 100 points scored against them in the home and away season and only another three points in their only final - at the same time the team posted 1621 points of their own.
The last time these teams met was in the second semi-final two weeks ago where the Bombers cruised to victory, 14.14 (98) to 0.3 (3).
In fact, these teams also met in the last round of the home and away season with the score 102-1 in favour of Penshurst, which will mean that the Bombers’ last three games of the 2022 season will be against Caramut.
The Bombers are expected to be at full strength for the grand final after having the week off and coach, Lachie Watt, is excited for his players.
“With not having to play last weekend we had a light workout, but due to the league holding the preliminary final at Penshurst, we couldn’t have a session on Saturday,” Watt said.
“The wet weather last week also put a dampener on our plans in regard to training, but the team is ready.
“This will be exciting for the club and the players, as we have been building for this for the past two years after only being awarded the minor premiership last year due to the pandemic.
“Caramut is a proud team, and they are going to come hard at us from the outset with their playing unit always being very competitive.
“We must be switched on right from the first ball up and not be playing catch-up football, as we look to instigate our game plan.”
Watt has overseen the ‘Baby Bombers’ for the past two seasons and in that time, he has watched as players such as Henry Bensch have progressed through the ranks to senior level.
“Henry has been played Under-16.5 level since he was seven years old, so to see him not only captain this side but also play 10 games in the seniors this year has been fulfilling, as he brings so much to the team at centre half-forward and also when he is on the ball,” Watt said.
Caramut coach, Todd O’Sullivan, is under no illusions as to the task ahead of his squad but considering the Swans didn’t even field a team in this grade three seasons ago, he has done wonders with his team to make the big dance.
“We have fielded a team in this grade for the past two seasons, but it was 15 years prior to that when the club last had a team in this grade, so to be in the grand final in only our second season is something the squad can be proud of,” O’Sullivan said.
“We know that we are the underdogs today but if we can apply pressure right through a quarter and then throughout the game, we can cause the Penshurst team plenty of worries.
“We’ve had 28 players this season and have lent players to opposition teams just so that the kids get a game, so to be in the grand final is really something we are proud of.”
Junior netball
Meanwhile, Penshurst enters the MDNA 17-and-Under grand final today knowing it must overcome minor premier, Woorndoo-Mortlake, a team it is yet to defeat this season.
The Tigers won the two home and away game between the teams and then went one better in the second semi-final to win by nine goals, giving the Bombers the knowledge of how much they need to improve to claim the premiership.
Woorndoo-Mortlake have yet to be vanquished this season and enters the grand final as raging hot favourites, but Penshurst is aware of what is needed to overcome the Tigers.
Having won five of its last six games (the defeat coming at the hands of the Tigers), Penshurst has the form on the board to cause an upset, and Penshurst coach, Sinaed Hasell, has learnt plenty from the previous encounters.
“Woorndoo is a very strong defensive side, so our game very much needs to be a possession one,” Hasell said.
The Bombers will be at full strength for the game which is good for any team at this time of the season, as there always seems to be injuries that have been picked up on the way.
The Bombers’ form in the finals has been great except for the one game against the Tigers, defeating Moyston-Willaura twice to gain a spot in today’s game.
“Woorndoo are the one team that we haven’t been able to overcome this year, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t,” Hasell said.
“We just need to stick to a steady game and not try and do anything fancy.
“We match it with them down the court, so if we can keep the ball in our hands then we give ourselves every chance to take the win.”
15-and-Under
THE Bombers enter the 15-and-Under grand final today searching to complete a perfect undefeated season, but Lismore-Derrinallum stands in its way looking to claim a piece of history of its own.
The Bombers are sitting on a 15-game winning streak after they despatched Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the second semi-final two weeks ago, but no doubt they have sat up and taken notice of the Demons.
Lismore-Derrinallum is seeking to come from a long way back in the race to overcome the Bombers after it finished the home and away season in fifth spot.
The Demons’ form over the finals series has been exemplary with victories against Tatyoon (11-10), Wickliffe-Lake Bolac (27-8) and finally Hawkesdale-Macarthur (16-11) in the preliminary final.
The Bombers would have been expecting to have a rematch with the Eagles, but with the Demons winning through, their game plan will have to change slightly to fit the situation.
“Lismore-Derrinallum qualified in fifth place this season, but their sheer determination and drive throughout their finals campaign makes them a team to be reckoned with,” Penhurst coach, Annie Mullins said.
“Our team will be successful this Saturday if they remain calm and play their own game, take each quarter as it comes, building on performance, whilst enjoying the atmosphere that is grand final day.
“Most importantly is for them have fun and enjoy what is such a magical occasion with your teammates.”
13-and-Under
LISMORE-DERRINALLUM and Penshurst face off in the 13-and-Under grand final, knowing that they are the two best teams in this grade after finishing the home and away season locked together on points with only percentage separating them.
When they met in the second semi-final, the Demons won by two goals but Bombers coach, Jemma Casey, knows what to expect from the opposition.
“They have three strong players spread over the court who carry their team, so we’ll look to shut them down as much as possible,” Casey said.
“Although we’ve lost to them twice by small margins, they’re still beatable, we just can’t afford to make silly mistakes because they will score off them.
“The challenge for any 13-and-Under side is going from relaxed umpiring throughout the season, to tight umpiring in finals where nothing gets let go.
“Due to this, we struggled with replays and held balls in our semi-final against Lismore-Derrinallum, so that’s something we’ll focus on at training prior to the game.”
