After 20 weeks of action, Laurimar and South Morang will lock horns to decide the premiership in Saturday’s Heidelberg Gold Club Division 3 grand final.
The Power and the Lions have been touted as the top two teams for some time now. They faced off in the preliminary final in 2019 where the Lions won a thriller before falling short in the decider to Panton Hill. In 2021, South Morang was on top of the ladder when the season was called off and the only game they lost that year was to Laurimar who were in second place.
Before the 2022 season, the Lions looked most likely to claim the flag, but the Power looked a more likely flag chance at the mid-season break with an 8-1 record, while South Morang were two wins adrift at 6-3.
The second half of the regular season saw the Lions roar back into flag contention as they won every game from round 8 through to the regular season’s end. This included two wins over Laurimar where South Morang was 23 points to the good in round 14 at Mill Park Lakes Reserve and then repeated the dose in round 17 at the same venue to the tune of 19 points.
Given that form line, Gary Hall’s men started the second semi-final as most people’s tip, however the Power produced a match-winning third term and cruised to a 26-point triumph. Because of the impressive nature of Laurimar’s win, most would now have installed them as flag favourites.
It was left to the Lions to battle it out with the improved Old Eltham Collegians to see who would play Jimmy Atkins’ men in the decider.
South Morang’s dominant win in the preliminary final was decisive enough to convince many onlookers that the flag favouritism has now became a flip of the coin affair.
Team changes since the second semi-final could have an effect on the grand final prospects of the teams. Provided that everyone pulled up well from their game two weeks prior, Laurimar’s only change might be the inclusion of Matthew Gersh if he is fit to play.
South Morang looked better with Tye Hall, James Hewson and Reece Jones in the side for the preliminary final after the trio missed the previous week, while Liam Jolly looks to continue his role as number one ruck, with both Nathan Stefanile, who played in the second semi-final, and Aaron Lazaric missing.
Three players who played against Laurimar two weeks ago but missed the preliminary final in Rohan Buzzini, Cayden Failla and Max Hayes would all be in the mix for selection.
If the Lions do prevail in the big one, it will follow a similar pattern to that of Watsonia in 2016.
Back then, the Saints entered the finals on a 12-game winning streak, then lost the second semi-final to Epping by 37 points. After winning the preliminary final narrowly over South Morang, they went on to claim the flag with a-47 point win in their rematch with the Blues.
In every other season apart from 2016, the winner of the second semi-final has gone on to become premiers. In some of those seasons, such as in 2014 when Thomastown won the flag, there was a sizable gap between the top team and the rest. But that is not the case this year as there is little between Laurimar and South Morang and both teams look fully capable of handling a promotion to Division 2.
Power fans will be looking to a centre square line-up of Josh Leather, Mitch Thompson and Luke Wilson to give them plenty of drive.
Up forward, Jacson Cecil is the main man with 85 goals to his name this season. Regular goal-kickers Jacob and Joel Lawson as well as Kaiden Arthur can also prove to be a dangerous task to handle up forward on their day.
Jake Richards has had a great season down back and will be supported by the experienced Nathan Andrews. If these players fire, as well as the Ethan’s, Frawley and Bateman, the Power will be hard to beat.
The Lions will hope Liam Jolly can continue his form from last week in playing first ruck, with Bailey Brown and Matthew Trim plying their trade in the midfield to give their team first use of the ball.
South Morang’s multi-pronged forward line of talls in Ben Peterson and Jake Potter, plus small forward Alex Colaidis will be on top of their game if the delivery inside fifty is effective.
Down back captain Mathew Robinson and Mitch Kalpakis will aim to restrict the scoring of the Power forwards.
It might be the team whose lesser lights stand up at critical stages that gets their team over the line but regardless, it all looks set for a great game which is sure to be viewed by a large crowd at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
