WGLFL grand final preview

By Ken Moore
IT will be excitement plus when Maffra meets Sale in the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League grand final on Saturday at Traralgon.
You don’t have to look hard for reasons why this match should be an absolute thriller both sides have produced three rousing displays this season, the result going down to the wire on each occasion.
In round one, Sale won by eight points, in round ten, Maffra won by three points with the last kick of the game and in the second semifinal, Sale got over the line by two points with a goal inside the last 90 seconds.
Last week Maffra flagged its intention that last year’s grandfinal loss, its first in four years, was an aberration when it thrashed Traralgon by 96 points.
After that performance it’s hard to pick against the Eagles.
However Sale, the minor premiers, has been outstanding this year and with two victories to one over the Eagles during the season, the Magpies are equally well fancied to throw off its label as underachievers and win its first flag since 1986.
It has been nothing but a twohorse race all season and both go into the contest with the self belief and confidence they can win.
Maffra dominated last week against the inexperienced Traralgon midfield, but against Sale that has a wellbalanced team with plenty of youth and seasoned, quality players it will be a far different game.
As with most games these days it will come down to the midfield duel.
This will pit Maffra’s much feted and classy onball division of captaincoach Hayden Burgiel, Cam Streeter, Gary Jones, Craig Robbins and Ben Coleman, to name just a few, against Shane Fyfe, Russell McAdam, Chris Laverty and Kane Fraser.
Maffra appears to have a slight advantage in this area with more depth.
This is important because if the game is tight, as expected, the fresher legs will prevail and Maffra’s depth will allow it to rotate more players through the interchange bench with little loss of momentum.
Sale is unlikely to have access to its Gippsland Power trio of Michael Todd, Kane Martin and Jack Bailey, all likely to play in the TAC Cup preliminary final against the Northern Knights.
However Sale appears to have more a more potent and wellbalanced forward line.
With tall forwards Nick Fowler (if fit) and Chris Aurisch, surrounded by the dangerous Jason Schuback, (the PakenhamBerwick Gazette player of the year), and Corey Scholtes, Damon Arrezzolo, Brenton Martin and Justin McLay, the Magpies have no shortage of goalscoring talent.
On the downside for Maffra it may have to overcome the loss of Kade Killoran.
He took a heavy knock early last week, did not reappear after quarter time and was looking pretty sick and sorry sitting on the bench.
Where Maffra appears to have a decided advantage is in the physical stakes. With Sam Bristow, Kallan Killoran, Daniel Stubbe, Justin Bramich, Nick Horsford and the Forysth brothers, Matt and Lee it has more maturity, superior body strength and it is evenly spread across all lines.
Since the second semifinal, Maffra has bolstered its team with the addition of Justin Bramich, Adrian Burgiel and Gary Jones and all played a huge role in last week’s demolition of Traralgon.
For this reason I’m inclined to favour Maffra.
Furthermore Sale’s centre halfforward Nick Fowler (shoulder) is under a big injury cloud.
In a classic encounter I’ll tip Maffra to win by 20 points and achieve its fourth premiership in five seasons, a feat only bettered by Traralgon that won four consecutive premierships from 1990 to 1994.
The under card also promises to be a ripper.
Sale will meet the minor premiers Morwell in the reserves.
The Magpies look to have a wellbalanced lineup and with talls Brett Hudson and Tom Sturgess and if not selected in the seniors, Luke Bates, Jake Shingles and Andrew Lambie, all with plenty of senior experience this season, it had the Tigers’ measure in the second semifinal and will enter the game as favourites.
The Magpies will need to pay close attention to Daryl Couling, Matt Brown and Michael Cleaver, who have all shown an eye for the goals this season, and have been in top form in recent weeks.
In the thirds Traralgon will play Morwell.
The Tigers have come through from the elimination final, so it will take a big effort to upset the fresher Maroons.
Morwell has plenty of talent led by centre halfforward and captain Ryan Allen and forwards Andrew Petrou and Tys Stanistreet, all noted goalkickers, but Traralgon also has plenty of promise led by Chris Dunn, Nic Quenault, Jackson Hall, Jack Fulton and Peter Brady who all loom as likely types.
This should help the Maroons to hoist the under18 premiership flag.