The first silverware of 2013 will be handed out on Saturday afternoon when Panton Hill meets Watsonia in the Division 3 Grand Final at Epping Recreation Reserve.
Panton Hill will be the outright favourite to win its first flag in the Northern Football League, with the club’s only senior premiership coming way back in 1955 while competing in the now-defunct Panton Hill Football League.
Under Dean Haydock the Redbacks have been dominant in Division 3 over the past two seasons, claiming successive minor premierships and Grand Final berths.
While 2012 ended in bitter disappointment following a huge loss to Mernda in the premiership decider, 2013 has all the makings of being the best year in the club’s history.
They have dominated the home and away series, winning 14 of 16 regular season games before a commanding 44-point win over Watsonia in the second semi final a fortnight ago.
Their defence is built on the wise heads of veterans Will Box, Ben Strongman and Joffa Byron and recruit Jeremy Gercovich, while Jason Evans has added another dimension in recent weeks and was superb in the aforementioned final win.
Up forward Ben Finnin, Brendan O’Connor, Nick Lowther and Zac Williams continue to cause headaches for opposition backmen, with the Redbacks the only team in Division 3 to average more than 100 points per game.
Injuries will cruel young gun Nathan Hendry and Callum Still the opportunity to suit up in the Grand Final. Despite the former’s omission, Panton Hill has plenty of cover in the midfield with Haydock, Abe Williams, Simon Amore, Tim Duckworth and Tyler Scarce all capable of holding the forte.
Watsonia continues to be the feel-good story of the season, with its meteoric rise under Lochie Dornauf taking it from wooden spooner to Grand Finalist in the space of just 12 months.
Despite a 0-3 record against Panton Hill this season, the Saints are without doubt the side most capable of taking it up to this year’s premiership favourite.
They bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Redbacks in week one of the finals with a runaway 36-point win over Thomastown in last week’s preliminary final – their fourth win over the Bears in as many outings this week.
In his first game back from injury, Jeremy Bennett booted a game-high five goals to take his tally for the season to 50 goals. If the Saints are to hold aloft the premiership cup at 5pm on Saturday, he will again have to have a big impact on the big stage.
Tony Hogg will also need to play a big game on Panton Hill leading ruckman Tristan Kreymborg. If Hogg can regularly provide first use to classy midfielders Dornauf and Matt Crompton, the Saints chances of upsetting the Redbacks will increase dramatically.
September 7 may well be federal election day, but all of the Northern Football League’s attention will be fixed on this year’s Grand Final where either side will break a long premiership drought.
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2013
Panton Hill holds a 3-0 advantage in matches played in 2013
Second Semi Final: Panton Hill 13.21 (99) def Watsonia 8.7 (55)
Round 10: Watsonia 6.9 (45) def by Panton Hill 9.12 (66)
Round 3: Panton Hill 19.14 (128) def Watsonia 8.16 (64)
