By DAVID NAGEL
CASEY CARDINIA FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
GRAND-FINAL PREVIEW – SATURDAY AT BERWICK
CRANBOURNE will draw on the gut wrenching and unimaginable pain of last year’s heartbreaking grand-final loss to Narre Warren when it looks for the ultimate in redemption against Beaconsfield at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Dylan Quirk’s last kick of the season cruelly robbed Cranbourne of its greatest triumph, bruised bodies lay dormant for what seemed an eternity, pools of tears flooding Pakenham’s Toomuc Reserve as skipper Marc Holt and his side struggled to come to grips with the pain.
From that very moment there was only one cure… only one medicine… now the remedy, a premiership cup, a brother to sit alongside the drought-breaking silverware of 2011 stands just four-quarters away.
Individually, these Cranbourne players don’t hate Beaconsfield, but this weekend they will hate their opponents for what they stand for, 22 players looking to inflict what would be a killer blow for Scott Sutherland and his side.
“At our first meeting, that’s what the players asked for, the opportunity to get back to the grand final and reverse the result from last year,” Sutherland said.
“And I knew this group had it in them.
“It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to get involved in the club. I’ve been blessed with a great opportunity to just talk to these blokes, to get them playing the way I want them to play, and they’ve jumped on board.
“It’s about belief, in the second half of the year they’ve just started doing it instead of talking about doing it… now it’s impulsive.
“I just couldn’t be prouder; I applaud every one of them and look forward to working with them again to bring home the big prize.”
Up to 15 Cranbourne players will regather from last year, that’s a mighty force and one that Beaconsfield will need to control early.
Does Beaconsfield really look at Cranbourne the same way? Does the hurt from the 2010 grand final loss still burn for players like Daniel Mislicki, Daniel Battaglin, Josh Dodsworth, Jesse Linkins and Damien Szwaja with the same intensity after four years?Or does it really even matter?
There are some obvious and not so obvious match ups that will determine the destination of the 2014 flag.
Holt, the imperious scoring machine against Battaglin in the goal square, young Beaconsfield defender Brandon White on the ‘Golden Greek’ Michael Theodoridis, Curtis Barker and Tyson Mitchem in the guts, while the ability of Cranbourne ruckman Michael Boland to play the game of his life against dual Norm Walker Medallist, Scott Meyer, will be critical.
Beaconsfield coach Clint Evans is confident his younger players, and game plan, will stand up under the enormous pressure that’s sure to be applied.
“We’ve got a few younger blokes in the side, but they’re level headed, mature beyond their years and they’re good footballers,” Evans said.
“Cranbourne know what it’s all about, they’ve been there over the last few years but I’m confident our pressure and intensity will stand us in good stead. It’s extremely exciting for our football club and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Beaconsfield’s forward line provides a complete contrast to the one that will line up at the opposite end of the ground. There’s no Holt, or Theodoridis, but instead a fleet-footed band of terriers that will scratch and claw, feed off the scraps, and apply unbelievable pressure on the Cranbourne defence.
Kris Fletcher is primed for a huge game; Troy McDermott is dangerous, while heavy rotations from the midfield will provide a different look.
THE TIP
Cranbourne needs at least a second premiership from this current crop of stars to make it all seem worthwhile.
It will need to reverse a worrying trend of backing up after confronting its arch-rival Narre Warren, having lost both games on the rebound, and last week’s epic has the potential to even sub-consciously have an impact.
Beaconsfield is the form team of the competition, with its skipper Daniel Mislicki, Ben Kerrigan and Damien Johnston finally making the most of Meyer’s dominance in the ruck.
This one is just going to come down to who wants it most in the home straight.
Cranbourne is resilient; like one of those inflatable punching bags that you fill with sand at the bottom. You can punch it, you can kick it, you can wrestle it to the ground but, somehow, the bloody thing just keeps springing back to life.
It’s that resilient quality that will see redemption completed… it’s Cranbourne by 13 points.
