By Ken Moore
GARFIELD is aiming to win its first EDFL grand final on Saturday when it meets Neerim Neerim South at the Nar Nar Goon recreation reserve.
The match will be a replay of the second-semi final, which was won handsomely by the Cats.
The Cats last won a premiership in 1999, when it beat Bunyip.
Just to make the grand final represents a meteoric rise for the Stars, who were in turmoil over the 2009 summer and their last season in the Gippsland Football League.
However, Garfield is no stranger to grand final appearances, having played in nine over the last two decades. Their last one was in 2004, when they beat Warragul in the now defunct West Gippsland League.
It should be a terrific day of country football and netball.
Five football premierships will be on the line, with the fifths starting proceedings at 8am, and culminating in the main match, the seniors, at 2.15pm. The netball program will begin with the F-grade girls at 9am.
The senior match will pit Neerim Neerim South’s workmanlike no frills style across all the lines against Garfield, renowned for their hard work, team unity and never-say-die attitude.
A strong sense of togetherness has been a Garfield trademark over many decades – and with 16 home grown players in the Neerim Neerim South line up; it also boasts the same innate strength.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Head to Head this season
Round 4: – Neerim Neerim South 9.8.(62) d by Garfield 15.20.(110)
Round 19: – Garfield 11.10.(76) d Neerim Neerim South 8.9.(57)
Second semi-final: Neerim Neerim South 18.14.(122) d Garfield 7.12.(54)
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:
NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
Strengths:
Its ruck division is led by the powerfully framed Matt Young and comprises three top quality ruck rovers, Leigh Sheehan, Chris Urie and Cam Hinkley. The Cats possess many mature bodies and often overwhelm opposition teams with their constant and hard attack on ball and body.
Weaknesses:
Three come to mind. Firstly, the Cats lost Chris Redl (37 goals) to a training track injury before the second semi-final and while not a prolific goalkicker, his height and physicality will be missed by the Cats’ goal poachers if he doesn’t play. Redl is making a late bid to play, but is in serious doubt. Secondly, the Cats low-tier players also drop off in talent and finally, ruckman Young has suffered a series of hamstring injuries this season, and there must be some doubt if his dodgy leg can stand the rigours of a grand final.
X-Factors:
Ex-Garfield utility Dean McFarlane will line-up against his former club. While he hasn’t displayed the stellar form he produced when he played in the Gippsland league, mainly due to long term injury, in the second semi-final he showed he was working towards his best. While he played in defence, he has the ability to go forward and swing a game and could be the ‘go to’ man if the Cats need extra forward firepower.
What coach Leigh Sheehan says:
It is no real secret that the team that applies the most pressure and uses the ball more efficiently will win … and hopefully it will be us. The match will likely be decided in the midfield.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:GARFIELD:
Strengths:
Good mix of seasoned and quality players. Its fitness, intensity at the ball carrier and ability to break the lines with a fast play-on style has troubled all comers this season.
Weaknesses:
It enters the game well below the form it exhibited up to round 15. Supporters have witnessed a mixed bag of results over the last five weeks, which has seen the Stars drop games to Bunyip and Poowong before a fighting victory over Neerim gave it the minor premiership bragging rights. A desultory second semi-final loss to the Cats preceded last Saturday’s rousing victory over Cora Lynn; a team many astute pundits said would go all the way. Inspirational coach Brent Eastwell is carrying an ankle injury that would surely rule him out of a home and away game and after gutsing it out last week, there must be a big question mark over whether he can produce his dynamic best on Saturday.
X-Factors:
The Stars often place an unhealthy reliance on one quarter cameos from the likes of Daniel Fry, James Bow, Mal McKenna and Ned and Tom Marsh to kick goals and win games. However, usually one of the aforementioned bob up week after week. Opposition teams often don’t know which one to focus on – and when.
What coach Brent Eastwell says:
If we can show the same mental application which saw us beat Cora Lynn and our players can win the one-on-one contests, which we were poor at when we played them in the second semi, then we can win.
Who will win and why?
Neerim Neerim South. Popular wisdom suggests last week’s heroic effort against Cora Lynn will take its toll on the Stars, who will likely fall off the pace in the second half.
