Here's four key factors in Saturday's BFNL grand final that will help determine the game.
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Holmes dilemma
Clayton Holmes is Eaglehawk's best ruck option.
Clayton Holmes is Eaglehawk's best key defensive option.
The absence of the injured Tim Hill probably means Holmes will be required to play on either of the Storm's key forwards Bryce Curnow or Hugh Robertson.
However, don't be surprised to see Holmes thrown into the ruck where his physicality will test Storm's ruck rotation of Will Wallace, Lachy Ratcliffe and Ben Lester.
The Hawks need to win the game rather than save it, so Holmes to the ruck and Brenton Conforti and Oscar Madden to play on Curnow and Robertson might be the best way to go.
Filo factor
Since his mid-season return to the Borough, Brodie Filo has been a solid contributor - 10 games, 17 goals and five times in the Hawks' best.
What he hasn't done is tear a game apart.
Yes, he kicked seven goals against Kangaroo Flat, but that was in a 200-point thumping where there was less pressure than circle work at training.
In the finals there's been flashes of briliance, but no match-defining performances.
The stage is set for Filo to produce something that changes the momentum of the grand final.
Quiet achievers
Who are the two most important players for Strathfieldsaye going into the grand final?
Lachlan Sharp and Kallen Geary? Hard to disagree. Bryce Curnow and Hugh Robertson would get plenty of votes as well.
What about Ben Lester and Harry Conway?
You probably can't rate them ahead of the other quartet, but Conway and Lester will play significant roles on Saturday.
If they can control Eaglehawk's key forwards - like they did in the second semi-final - then the Storm have the luxury of playing Curnow inside forward 50.
Curnow, Robertson and Sharp are the most potent forward trio in the competition. Move Curnow from attack to defence and it eases the pressure on the Borough backline.
The glove
When's the last time a midfielder or small forward got a hold of Storm tagger Kellan Smith?
Storm insiders will tell you it's as rare as a Lachy Sharp handball.
Storm coach Troy Coates has plenty of options for Smith. Ben McPhee, Gedd Hommelhoff, Brodie Filo, Riley Saunders or even one of the Collins brothers could have Smith as a minder for the afternoon.
Read more: Hawks not afraid of reigning champs
Read more: Strong start crucial for Borough
Read more: Storm's shot at redemption
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