South Morang coach Gary Hall is positive his side can overcome its second semi final loss to Banyule and win the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 premiership.
Saturday’s decider will be the club’s first appearance in a senior grand final since defeating Parkside in 2011.
Hall, who took over as the Lions’ senior coach after the Round 5 loss to Banyule, said the entire club was excited by the chance to be back on the big stage.
“Everyone’s excited. The place is abuzz at the moment. All season it’s been a pretty good place to be around and everyone’s up and about,” Hall told NFL.org.au.
Hall isn’t fazed that the Lions were soundly beaten by their grand final opponent just two weeks ago – with that result the first time he has tasted defeat since taking on the senior job.
“We’re confident. We’ve beaten them before and only dropped that one game,” Hall said.
“It doesn’t hurt to lose every now and then. It put us back down to earth and it makes sure you re-evaluate things. It just makes us more determined.”
South Morang finished on top of the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 ladder with a 15-1 record.
They entered the finals series on the back of 12-consecutive wins, but after losing to Banyule in the first week of the finals have had to take the long route to the grand final.
While the Bears got a week off, the Lions had to face a determined Epping in an intense preliminary final – where they prevailed by eight points to put an end to a three-year preliminary final hoodoo.
Hall believes the extra match last week will keep South Morang match-hardened for the grand final.
“The last four games we’ve played of the season have all been really tough games in hard conditions,” he said.
“We’re definitely match-hardened that’s for sure.”
The Lions’ list is in a good position ahead of the decider, with many players who have missed the past two games putting up their hand for selection.
“You’re going to feel sorry for a couple of boys who are going to miss out, but you have to choose your best side and the one that’s near 100 per cent fit,” Hall said.
“That’s the way we’re going to head with selection.”
South Morang may go into Saturday’s decider as underdog after falling 36 points short of a convincing Banyule in the second semi final.
The Bears out-hunted the minor premier in that clash, something Hall is adamant will be rectified this week.
“It’ll be around the stoppages where the game is won I think,” Hall said.
“We’ll get a couple of boys back this week that will help us in the midfield.
“The weather on Saturday and that ground has been for the last few weeks pretty heavy underfoot anyway, so it’s going to be pretty hard conditions.
