2014 Illawarra Mercury Premier League Grand Final

Bulli FC vs Dapto Dandaloo Fury

WIN Stadium

Kick-off: Sunday, 3pm.

Referee: Andrew Naylor

Bulli will enter their third consecutive Illawarra Premier League Grand Final this weekend when they take on the Dapto Dandaloo Fury at WIN Stadium.

A Grand Final victory would be icing on the cake for Bulli after taking home the League Championship this season and the club will be hoping to break the duck after losing out in the 2012 and 2013 Grand Finals.

Despite the occasion, Bulli boss Ben Smith says his team won’t deviate from the type of football that’s brought them so much success this season.

“We go out every week to win,” said Smith.

“Our approach isn’t going to be any different on Sunday because we know the way we want to play our football and it’s worked very well for us; we won’t be changing much for the game.

“There’ll be a difference in intensity and the atmosphere and that’s on the players to manage but they’re all looking forward to it.

“We’ve obviously got a pretty experienced team with some players from the last couple of Grand Finals and you’d expect them to lead the first timers around the park on Sunday.

“The younger guys are very good players in their own right, though, and have played in some big games this season and held their own so I expect all players to really give a good account of themselves.

“We’re really looking forward to it, we haven’t spoken much about previous Grand Finals but I’m sure it’s something on the player’s minds because they’ll want to get that monkey off their back.”

Bulli were the competition’s best team this season and they showed it by wrapping up the League Championship on the final day of the regular season, but their Grand Final opponents pushed them all season long.

Dapto Dandaloo did it the hard way this post-season with two comeback wins either side of their loss to Bulli in the major semi-final but the club can look to plenty of experience when it comes to Grand Finals.

Player-coach Noel Spencer and captain Alvin Ceccoli both featured in A-league Grand Finals and will be looking to provide a steadying hand to some of the younger members of the team.

The game will be an extra special occasion for Spencer with his decision to hang up the boots in order to take over coaching of the side full time next season.

Ceccoli, along with the versatile David Hartas, will undergo fitness tests on Saturday morning to determine their role on Grand Final day.

“I’m really looking forward to it because it’s my last game and happy to go out in a Grand Final as long as we put in a real Fury performance,” said Spencer.

“I’ve been involved in a few Grand Finals in my time and in front of some decent crowds as well but there’ll certainly be some emotion in my last game.

“If we can get the job done I’ll be a happy, retired man.

 “It’s been a tough season but I think the boys have really knuckled down in the last week and come up with some really crucial results.

“This club’s always had the drive and the passion when it comes to finals football and I think everyone here has lifted since the season proper finished.

“The form guide goes out the window in a Grand Final, there’s a lot of mental things that come in to play and players get caught up in the occasion so it’s very different.

“We’ve got a lot of experienced guys in our group and plenty of young guys with plenty of mobility and I think it’s going to be a really exciting game.”

The 2014 decider will add another chapter to the growing rivalry between the Fury and Bulli with both clubs looking to cap off their season with a Trophy.

Julian Keith

FSC Reporter