Both were the early season fancies to play off in this year’s premiership-decider and after dominant home and away seasons, the script is going to plan for both sides.
Panton Hill reached this year’s finals series with wins in 15 of its 16 regular season games. The one blemish came against Mernda in Round 10 when the Redbacks were destroyed by 100 points – the result an aberration in an otherwise faultless campaign.
Despite the belting, the Redbacks still took out the 2012 minor premiership thanks largely to wins in their two other encounters against the Demons – which included retribution in Round 16 when they held Mernda to just three goals in a 24-point victory.
Given it finished the season in first place and won two of the three encounters against its biggest competitor, Panton Hill heads into the finals series as the slight favourite to take out its first senior premiership and earn promotion into Division 2.
Mernda certainly looked the side to beat when it thrashed the Redbacks at the halfway point of the season – the win one of 10 in succession for Brett Wilson’s side beginning in Round 3 and ending at the hands of Reservoir in Round 14.
At times during the hot streak, the Demons looked simply unstoppable. They claimed four wins by triple-digits and twice accounted for St Mary’s. However, since losing to Reservoir things haven’t been as rosy.
Following the loss to the Mustangs they trailed Parkside by four goals at half-time before a stunning second-half fightback resulted in a five-goal win. They then lost to Panton Hill but seem to be back on track following two comfortable wins in the final two weeks of the home and away season.
Their defence has stood resolute all season and conceded just 836 points for the entire season at an average of just 52 points per game. The backs have been aided by a dominant midfield, led by Rohan Davies, Matthew Rees and David Hutchinson, who consistently win the ball from the centre of the ground and ensure that the ball spends more time in Mernda’s attacking half.
Cameron Curlis has been the leading goal kicker up forward with 35, however the Demons have had their troubles converting their chances at times. They kicked 20 behinds in both their losses in Round 2 and Round 14 and have kicked more behinds than goals in each of their past five matches.
Goal kicking hasn’t been a concern at Panton Hill, where sharpshooter Jonathon Byron comfortably took out the Division 3 goal kicking award with 96 majors. Brendan O’Connor has also been in good form in the attacking half and has 35 goals for the season, including five bags of three-goals or more.
Given how little has split the sides during the course of the regular season it’s safe to assume that a close game awaits in the second semi final.
With that in mind, the side that books the first place in this year’s Grand Final will be the one that makes the most of its opportunities on Saturday.
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2012
Round 16: Mernda 3.7 (25) def by Panton Hill 7.7 (49)
Round 10: Panton Hill 8.8 (56) def by Mernda 24.12 (156)
Round 2: Mernda 9.20 (74) def by Panton Hill 13.8 (86)
