The two best sides of the home and away season will fight for the first berth in the grand final.

The Storm, courtesy of their top of the ladder finish with a 16-2 record, have enjoyed a freshen-up leading into Saturday night’s clash with the Hawks.

The reigning premier has won its past five games since it was outplayed by Sandhurst in round 13 and so dominant has it been through that streak, the Storm has won all 20 quarters it has played.

They won’t have star forward Lachlan Sharp (broken leg) in the goal square, but the trio of Bryce Curnow (49 goals), Fergus Payne (35) and Hugh Robertson (20) ensures the Storm still has plenty of forward arsenal.

The Hawks couldn’t have been more impressive last week in thumping Kyneton by 112 points in the qualifying final in what was their seventh win on the trot.

Given they finished a game clear on top the Storm deserve to go in as favourites, but the Hawks – along with Sandhurst – are one of only two teams to have beaten them this season, albeit way back in round one by 25 points.

• How they stack up:

STRATHFIELDSAYE:

Record – 16-2, 225.7%.

Avg for/agst – 122/54.

Quarters won – 62 of 72.

EAGLEHAWK:

Record – 16-3, 193.5%.

Avg for/agst – 115/59.

Quarters won – 52 of 76.

• Season meetings:

Round 1 – Eaglehawk 12.12 (84) d Strathfieldsaye 8.11 (59).

Round 10 – Strathfieldsaye 14.8 (92) d Eaglehawk 8.10 (58).

• Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 12; Eaglehawk 12.

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How do you recover from a triple-figure belting in a final?

That’s the challenge confronting Kyneton on Sunday following their 112-point qualifying final obliteration from Eaglehawk last Saturday.

You don’t fluke finishing in the top three and you don’t lose your ability overnight and the Tigers must regain that competitive mindset and edge that served them so well the previous week when their double chance was on the line against Golden Square.

In contrast, Sandhurst is in good nick with eight wins in its past nine games, including a hard-fought 23-point victory over Gisborne in the elimination final last Sunday.

The Dragons have hit their straps in the second half of the season and continue to prove tough to score against having now gone nine games in a row without conceding more than 10 goals, with one of their defenders, Jake Pallpratt, proving to be one of the recruits of the season in the competition.

• How they stack up:

KYNETON:

Record – 12-6-1, 127.8%.

Avg for/agst – 97/76.

Quarters won – 43 of 76.

SANDHURST:

Record – 13-6, 188.1%

Avg for/agst – 99/53

Quarters won – 51 of 76

• Season meetings:

Round 6 – Kyneton 14.9 (93) d Sandhurst 8.14 (62).

Round 15 – Sandhurst 7.15 (57) d Kyneton 4.10 (34).

• Since 1995: Sandhurst 37; Kyneton 11; Drawn 2.

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RICHARD JONES (82) - Strathfieldsaye, Sandhurst.

LUKE WEST (80) - Strathfieldsaye, Sandhurst.

ADAM BOURKE (77) - Strathfieldsaye, Sandhurst.

WILLIAM VALLELY (74) - Eaglehawk, Sandhurst.

KIERAN ILES (70) - Eaglehawk, Sandhurst.

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It’s grand final showdown number four in a row between the Bombers and Bulldogs at Huntly.

The ledger currently stands at 2-1 North Bendigo’s way the previous three years, while in their battles this season it’s a 2-1 advantage to Leitchville-Gunbower, including by four points in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.

Sportsbet has the Bombers’ $1.70 favourites in its premiership market and the Bulldogs at $2.10.

Combined the two sides boast 31-5 records this season and with plenty of history in big games against each other, expect another physical, hotly-contested installment of the league’s No.1 rivalry where the prize up for grabs is the 2018 premiership.

• How they stack up:

LEITCHVILLE-

GUNBOWER:

Record – 16-2, 204.9%.

Avg for/agst – 123/60.

Quarters won – 55 of 72.

NORTH BENDIGO:

Record – 15-3, 226.8%.

Avg for/agst – 137/60.

Quarters won – 58 of 72.

• Season meetings:

Round 1 – Leitchville-Gunbower 8.21 (69) d North Bendigo 6.8 (44).

Round 10 – North Bendigo 22.11 (143) d Leitchville-Gunbower 11.4 (70).

Qualifying final – Leitchville-Gunbower 10.18 (78) d North Bendigo 11.8 (74).

• Head to Head: North Bendigo 15; Leitchville-Gunbower 9.

…………………………………

LUKE WEST (66) - Leitchville-Gunbower.

ADAM BOURKE (65) - Leitchville-Gunbower.

WILLIAM VALLELY (63) - Leitchville-Gunbower.

KIERAN ILES (59) - Leitchville-Gunbower.

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Who will earn the right to challenge Newbridge in next week’s grand final?

The Superoos have fought their way into the preliminary final from the elimination final and now have five wins in a row behind them.

The Superoos were given a massive scare in last week’s first semi-final when from 33 points up at half-time against Pyramid Hill they had to fight right to the end to win by one point.

Maiden Gully YCW, which hasn’t played in a grand final since its last flag in 2002, has taken a massive step forward out of the wilderness this year under new coach Wayne Mitrovic.

The Eagles pushed flag favourite Newbridge for the first half last week, with the challenge now – much as it is for Mitiamo given how its second half against Pyramid Hill played out – to produce four quarters of quality finals football.

Meanwhile, entry into the Marong ground on Saturday will be via the Bendigo side entrance and not the usual creek dip.

• How they stack up:

MAIDEN GULLY YCW:

Record – 13-5, 119.6%.

Avg for/agst – 94/79.

Quarters won – 40 of 72.

MITIAMO:

Record – 11-7, 124.6%

Avg for/agst – 84/68

Quarters won – 39 of 72

• Season meetings:

Round 3 – Maiden Gully YCW 13.6 (84) d Mitiamo 8.13 (61).

Round 12 – Mitiamo 12.10 (82) d Maiden Gully YCW 7.9 (51)

• Since 1995: Mitiamo 33; Maiden Gully YCW 24.

…………………………………

ADAM BOURKE (53) - Maiden Gully YCW.

LUKE WEST (53) - Mitiamo.

WILLIAM VALLELY (48) - Mitiamo.

KIERAN ILES (45) - Mitiamo.

…………………………………

• How they stack up:

BIRCHIP-WATCHEM:

Record – 12-5, 151.7%.

Avg for/agst – 78/52.

Quarters won – 43 of 68.

SEA LAKE NANDALY:

Record – 9-8, 103.6%.

Avg for/agst – 76/74.

Quarters won – 31 of 68.

• Season meetings:

Rd 1 – Birchip-Watchem 13.10 (88) d Sea Lake Nandaly 5.7 (37).

Rd 11 – Birchip-Watchem 11.10 (76) d Sea Lake Nandaly 8.8 (56).

• Head to Head: Birchip-Watchem 4; Sea Lake Nandaly 3.

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