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WILL it be a case of third time lucky for Birchip-Watchem on Saturday?
The Bulls are lining up in their third-consecutive North Central league grand final when they meet Sea Lake Nandaly for the flag at St Arnaud.
Birchip-Watchem has lost the past two grand finals to Wycheproof-Narraport, leaving the Bulls enduring the league's longest premiership drought, with their last flag year still 2001 when they defeated Wedderburn by 47 points.
Much like their opponents Sea Lake Nandaly, the Bulls - coached by ruckman Lochlan Sirett - have been a dominant force this year, but had to take the preliminary final route through to Saturday's showdown.
Their 16-2 record is accompanied by a percentage of 227.0 and average winning margin of 66 points.
The Bulls' only two losses have both come at the hands of the Tigers - by 46 points in round five and 27 points in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
Birchip-Watchem bounced back from its second semi-final defeat to beat Charlton by 23 points in last week's preliminary final and book another shot at the premiership.
The Bulls head into the grand final conceding an average of just 43 points per game and at one stage between rounds six and 13 held their opposition to consecutive scores of just 10, 43, 40, 26, 22, 40, 35 (Sea Lake Nandaly) and 24.
Nathan Gordon has been electric on a wing - he has been in the Bulls' best in 13 of their 18 games and kicked 24 goals - while Dale Hinkley has again provided plenty of class off half-back and Jacob Christie has had a ripping back half of the season in the midfield.
A shoulder injury has kept full-forward Stephen Paulke sidelined since round 12, but he's still the Bulls' leading goalkicker with 46, followed by Lachlan Foott's 44.
Some accuracy in front of goal will help the Bulls' cause on Saturday given they've kicked 2.10 and 7.9 in their past two grand final losses.
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