YEPPOON VS BITS
Well here it is, after 15 home and away games and a couple of closely contested finals, just 120 minutes of football stands between one team winning the 2011 Trend Interiors Carpet and Tile Court A Grade Premiership, who will emerge victorious.
Some may be surprised by the opponents for BITS this year, but you only have to cast your eye back to the half-way point of the season when it was Yeppoon that had a 7-1 winning record and looked the most likely to challenge BITS in the Grand Final this year. While Yeppoon have had to do it the hard way and fight off a late season form slump, they have made it to this years decider and will provide a tough challenge for the BITS juggernaut.
For BITS, the season has gone from strength to strength going through the minor rounds undefeated and progressing straight through to the grand final after a comfortable semi-final win against Glenmore a fortnight ago. While BITS have the added pressure of going into the game raging hot favourites, they also have the added motivation having lost the last 2 grand finals, one of which was to Yeppoon in 2009.
On paper both teams are bursting with talented footballers and match winning footballers. For the Swans they have youth that have speed and skill on their side, while for the Saints they have size and experience that should mean that they will handle the occasion better. A key for both sides will be to settle the nerves early.
If there is one area that BITS have a clear advantage over Yeppoon it would have to be their imposing forward line. The BITS forward line has dominated opposition backlines this year, boosting size, marking strength and 'The Animal'. John Beirouti has been unstoppable this year kicking his way to over 100 goals and whoever plays on him tomorrow will have their hands full.
The Yeppoon on ball brigade are the key to their winning chances, they must not let the BITS onballers get easy clearances and deliver clean ball to their forward line, and if they do things could get very ugly. If they are able to pressure and harass their opponent, then they will be in the contest and things may get interesting late in the game. Yeppoon have shown that they can run strongly until the final siren.
It will take a brave man to back against BITS tomorrow, however anything can happen in a Grand Final. BITS won't have it all their own way and if Yeppoon can start well and take an early lead, the big local crowd will get behind them, and the pressure will quickly build on the Saints as it will be unfamiliar territory.
Expect an action packed Grand Final and for the cream to rise to the top. BITS already have one hand on the trophy and the football gods will have to be against them tomorrow for them to not secure this years premiership.
While winning will require effort from all 22 players, I have singled out a player from each team that I believe holds the key to their team and could be very influential in defining Saturday's result.
Yeppoon – Matt Wallin
BITS – Luke O'Shea
Prediction: BITS by 33 points
Previous Results
Round 1 - BITS 15-15 (105) defeated Yeppoon 11-3(69)
Round 6 - BITS 13-19 (97) defeated Yeppoon 12-9 (81)
Round 11 - BITS 27-13 (175) defeated Yeppoon 8-12 (60)
KICKING GOALS WITH RAZ!!!
Last Modified on 31/10/2014 12:18