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THE TEAMS: Leitchville-Gunbower
THE TEAMS: North Bendigo
A YEAR ago North Bendigo ended a flag drought at the expense of Leitchville-Gunbower in the Heathcote District Football-Netball League grand final.
Twelve months on the Bombers will be aiming to do the same against the Bulldogs when they again meet for the premiership on Saturday at Huntly.
Leitchville-Gunbower hasn’t won a premiership since 1995 in the now-defunct Northern Echuca Football League.
The Bombers came close to ending their drought last year against North Bendigo, but were beaten by 10 points by the Bulldogs, who captured their first premiership since 1977.
The Bombers enter the grand final with the momentum of 15 wins in a row by an average 89 points, having not lost since round two.
However, the Bombers have had injury concerns in the lead-up to the grand final.
Daniel Coates (hamstring), co-captain Daniel Couwenberg (hamstring) and assistant coach Ryan Prendergast (calf) were all sidelined by quarter-time of the Bombers’ second semi-final win over Huntly a fortnight ago.
Coates was the only omission named on Thursday night, while there were four inclusions into the extended squad of 25 in Brendon Meroli, Jarrad Nuttall, Jack Dye and James Brereton.
The Bulldogs – who have brought in Sam Demeo for Matthew Thomas – hit what’s their third grand final in a row and fourth in the past five years having won nine of their past 10 games, including two cut-throat finals against Huntly and Colbinabbin the past fortnight.
North Bendigo inflicted one of the two losses the Bombers have suffered this year by 35 points in round one, before Leitchville-Gunbower prevailed in round 10 by 47 points.
Meanwhile, in the A-grade netball Colbinabbin will be gunning for back-to-back premierships when it takes on White Hills.
The Demons go in as favourites having beaten the Grasshoppers in all three clashes this year.
