GRAND FINAL WEEK COVERAGE:
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THE end of a 37-year premiership drought or the continuation of a dynasty?
That’s the question that will be answered on Saturday afternoon when North Bendigo meets Lockington-Bamawm United in the Heathcote District Football League grand final at Huntly.
The Bulldogs are gunning for their first senior premiership since 1977, while the Cats are aiming to add to their dynasty with a fourth flag in a row.
WHY THE BULLDOGS CAN WIN
The Bulldogs couldn’t be positioned any better going into the grand final.
They are fresh off the back of only playing one final and go in with an unchanged line-up to the side that defeated Leitchville-Gunbower in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
What I like about the Bulldogs is the evenness through their side.
It’s not a side stacked with superstars, rather, it’s been a balance of 22 contributors playing their role each week and that’s what they’ll again need to win the flag.
As for their formline, how can you argue against 15 wins in a row by an average of 59 points?
WHY THE CATS CAN WIN
BIG-GAME experience is pivotal on grand final day.
And the Cats have it in spades on the back of three premierships in a row, with 12 players who have played in the flag hat-trick lining up on Saturday.
Lachlan Collins, Kahl Oliver, coach Adrian Dohnt, Mick Dobson, Chris Hudson, Matt Bongiovanni, Leigh Deledio, John Halloran, Nathan O’Brien, Liam Main, Daniel Lucas and Carl Treacy are the dozen Cats going for their fourth flag in a row.
However, the big question mark over the Cats is the health of their list... namely Dohnt, Jonathan Hay and Oliver - all key players.
COACHES FINAL WORD
Rob Bennett (North Bendigo) - “We go in with no concerns with injuries or worries about players being able to get through the game.
“Physically, we couldn’t be any better prepared and it’s now a matter of whether the guys can get the job done on Saturday.
“We’ve spoken this week about enjoying the day and soaking it all up.”
Adrian Dohnt (LBU) - “We’ve had some tough games over the finals series, but we’ve trained accordingly this week.
“The boys have had a good week on the track, we’ve touched the footy as much as we can and we’re ready to go.”
THE TEAMS:
North Bendigo
B: T. Metherell T. O’Loughlin J. Mills
Hb: Aarryn Craig M. Sawyer S. Kellow
C: J. Ford R. Alford Ash Craig
Hf: D. Richards J. Coppock D. Sipthorp
F: T. Plim M. Hodoras D. Webb
Ruck: R. Gow C. Lomas T. Findlay
Interchange: B. Jennings, J. Evans, A. Shipard, C. Moore
Lockington-Bamawm United
B: C. Treacy R. Woodland G. Broad
Hb: S. Keleher D. Lucas N. O’Brien
C: L. Deledio M. Dobson N. Bacon
HF: M. Deledio C. Hudson J. Halloran
F: R. Jensen L. Collins J. Hay
Ruck: L. Main M. Bongiovanni M. Angove
Interchange: A. Dohnt, P. Hudson, T. Bacon, K. Oliver
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke - North Bendigo (24)
Luke West - North Bendigo (20)
Nathan Dole - North Bendigo (10)
Kristen Alebakis - LBU (7)
