In the past decade the HDFNL has been blessed with several classic grand finals.
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If the HDFNL club coaches are good judges, this Saturday's grand final between Colbinabbin and North Bendigo will be another classic.
When asked for grand final selections, the coaches not competing on Saturday found it hard to split the Hoppers and Bulldogs.
North Bendigo won the two home and away games by 11 and 13 points, but Colbo proved too strong in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
"North have the runs on the board all season and they have finals experience,'' Elmore coach Danny Brewster said.
"There's not going to be much between them, but North to win a really close game."
White Hills coach Sam Kerridge also tipped the Dogs to win by a narrow margin.
"Colbo are playing fantastic footy at the moment, but maybe the loss in the second semi was the kick in the butt that North needed,'' Kerridge said.
"North have been the best team all year, so I'll tip North in a close one."
Mounts coach Darren Walsh said North Bendigo up close in last Saturday's preliminary final.
The 15-goal result was enough for Walsh to select the Doggies.
"North Bendigo are experienced and they've been there and done it before,'' Walsh said.
"They'll be hungry to beat Colbo after the loss a couple of weeks ago and North's older players mightn't get too many more chances to win another flag."
Lockington-Bamawm United oach Kahl Oliver and Leitchville-Gunbower representative Matt Hawken like Colbinabbin's chances on Saturday.
Oliver's Cats went down to Colbo in the qualifying final and he was impressed by what he saw.
"I'll go Colbo because I think they've peaked at the right time of the year,'' Oliver said.
"Colbo had their injuries, but they've got good players in form at the right time of the year."
Hawken agreed that the Hoppers had saved their best footy for Setpember.
"Watching Colbo in the qualifying final they showed a lot of ticker to come back when things weren't going well for them,'' Hawken said.
"It showed they've got plenty of belief in what they'e doing.
"It's a flip of the coin, and it will go the distance, but I'll stick with Colbo."
Heathcote coach Wayne Primmer summed up the thoughts of the coaches best.
The Sandhurst premiership coach struggled to find a clear winner.
"If Colbo plays the way it did in the second semi-final then it can beat North again,'' Primmer said.
"Then again, North should have learned from that. They're the two best kicking teams in the league, so it will come down to the midfield.
"I'll go for North Bendigo, but I could change my mind by Saturday - that's how close it is."
Huntly coach Stacy Fiske was unavailable for comment.
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