Wyndhamvale is aiming to complete the perfect season, needing win number 12 to claim the Division 3 premiership, and a clean sweep of the competition in season 2014.
Standing in their way is Whitehorse, who have risen from fourth spot on the ladder to be a chance at claiming an unlikely premiership victory against the run away ladder favourites.
In what looked like it would be a close and competitive season in Division 3 /4 after the first couple of rounds, Wyndhamvale had early wins against eventual top four teams Deer Park and Port Melbourne. But after the season introduction, Wyndhamvale showed what they were capable of, with 45 points being its lowest winning margin for the rest of the season; with four 100 point plus victories along the way. It was a dream run finishing the season undefeated on top of the ladder and stamping themselves as favourites heading in to the finals.
Whitehorse also has a strong start to the season, with four wins from its first five games to be sitting inside the top four early in the season. It only took their second loss midseason against Port Melbourne to see themselves dropped from the top four, and have to fight their way back in before the end of the home and away action. Round 12 saw them return to the top four, finishing the season the way they started with four wins from their last five games to secure fourth spot. The key this season has been the great group they have been able to put together, who play not for individual glory, but for each other, week in and week out.
Wyndhamvale kept its winning run intact with closely fought seven point win against Port Melbourne in the Semi Final. The Colts were seen as the main challenger to the top of the ladder side, after they produced the closest result against them during the home and away rounds of 14 points.
“Our first final was an extremely tough, hard fought game that was close all day.
“We were lucky enough to finish with a little more running than Port Colts and get ourselves over the line.”
Whitehorse has been able to produce the big results when they count in the finals. In the Semi Final they defeated Deer Park by just seven points, and then followed that up with a thrilling one point victory against Port Melbourne in the Preliminary Final. After defeating the perceived challenger to Wyndhamvale in the Prelim, anything is now possible for them.
“It is a cliché but we don’t have a team of champions. We have a team of players who are mostly new to football and play as a champion team.
“We won through to the grand final not as the most skilful or best team, but as a team that really works for each other all over the ground."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wyndhamvale: Andy Cameron, Bridgie Russo, Jacinta Dimasi
Whitehorse: Katie O’Hanlon, Maddie Kovarik, Amy –Louise Munro
PATH TO GRAND FINAL
Wyndhamvale:
Semi Final: Wyndhamvale 4.9 33 d Port Melbourne 3.7 25
Whitehorse:
Semi Final: Whitehorse 6.5 41 d Deer Park 4.11 35
Preliminary Final: Whitehorse 5.3 33 d Port Melbourne 4.8 32
LAST TIME THEY MET
Wyndhamvale
|
3.3
|
4.4
|
10.6
|
15.8 98
|
Whitehorse
|
0.1
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
1.4 10
|
Wyndhamvale
Goal Kickers: J. Cameron 7, K. Slattery 3, J. Heath 2, K. Myers , B. Eley , K. Beams
Best Players: K. Slattery , J. Cameron, E. Slattery, J. Dimasi, L. Olsen, N. Elliott
Whitehorse
Goal Kickers: L. Gore
Best Players: G. Dillon, A. Richardson, S. Clough, J. Johnson, E. Smith, M. Kovarik
Last Modified on 28/08/2014 16:28