By David Nagel
It promises to be a spectacle for the ages.
A glistening 2023 WGFNC premiership cup is up for grabs on Saturday when Inverloch-Kongwak and Phillip Island collide on a sunny day at a pristine Kooweerup Recreation Reserve.
The stage could not be any better as the two best teams all season battle it out for football’s ultimate prize.
The Sea Eagles, with a fire burning in the belly since a disappointing exit last year, take on a Bulldogs’ outfit that finished runner up in 2022.
Two great teams…chasing a holy grail that has proved largely elusive for generations throughout their history.
The Sea Eagles have won seven flags, their first in 1966, and their last in 2017, which broke a 31-year premiership drought.
The Bulldogs have won six, their first in 1951 – triumphant after five consecutive defeats – and their next 30 years later in 1981.
These things are so bloody hard to win!
And recent history would suggest that we’re in for an absolute cracker.
Round 18 ended in a thrilling draw, before the Sea Eagles scraped home by a point in the second semi-final at Nar Nar Goon.
It was a warmish day the semi, played on the huge dimensions of Nar Nar Goon, with the Sea Eagles prevailing despite making seven changes to their line-up.
But by golly, didn’t they feel the pinch late with several players returning from long-term injuries.
Apart from the two great teams, there are other factors that standout as crucially important in the big one.
The grounds at Nar Nar Goon and Kooweerup are almost identical in length, but this week’s venue is 34 metres skinnier.
That will make it easier for both teams to condense space and make ball-movement difficult for the other.
The other is the heat…with the temperature tipped to reach 25 degrees at the time of writing.
The big question is: How has Tom Hams managed his list with so little football being played?
“Luckily, I’ve got an experienced group around me, and a physio in Paddy McGrath, so we’ll take it easy early this week,” Hams said after the narrow semi-final victory.
“We’ll then get the legs ticking over on Thursday.
“We get five trainings before we play, so we’ll ramp things up and make sure we’re ready to go on the big day.
“The old adage is ‘don’t get yourself too excited and worked up before a grand final’, but we’ve spoken as a group and we’re going to embrace it.
“It’s community footy, it means a lot to a town like Inverloch to have four teams already through to grand finals.
“They don’t come around often.
“I’ve been lucky to play in six, but have only won one, so they’re very hard to win.”
The Sea Eagles fitness, or more accurately their lack of match-play over the last month, might not be a factor at all.
But what it does do is give Cameron Pedersen and his Phillip Island boys the belief that they’re never going to be out of this contest.
Even if they’re down at three-quarter time…they’ll be pushing the extremities all the way through to the final siren, in the hope that the opposition cracks.
“It’s set up for a cracking grand final, but we need to go away and work on certain things,” Pedersen said after last week’s preliminary final win over Nar Nar Goon.
“Their entries going forward inside 50 are very predictable, but we didn’t defend it very well last time.
“They’ve got a handful of blokes who haven’t played much football over the last five or six weeks, we’ve been playing consistently, and it’s going to be hot so the forecast says.
“It should be a cracking contest.”
Pedersen also has some decisions to make at the selection table, with gun midfielder Hayden Bruce likely to return after missing five games with a cheekbone injury.
“He could have played today (prelim), and wanted to, but I said no because it was important to hold him back,” Pedersen said.
“It would be great to have him, but then that means someone that has been playing really great football would miss out.
“We’ll have those discussions throughout the week, and hopefully we can have him back.”
Pedersen said he is excited by the challenge, but already extremely proud of his group for overcoming obstacles.
“It is really exciting, especially when you consider we don’t have Sauce (Jason Tomada), we don’t have (Alex) Duyker, (Brendan) Kimber’s not playing, and Eli (Richards), but the boys have just stepped up,” he said.
“Our reserves team only got knocked out last week, and we’ve got the 16s and 18s in, so we’re in a great spot to have continued success.”
MATCH-UPS IN 2023
ROUND 2 AT PHILLIP ISLAND
PHILLIP ISLAND 0.1 1.5 3.9 7.10(52)
INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 4.2 8.5 10.6 13.10(88)
ROUND 18 AT INVERLOCH
INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 2.7 4.7 4.12 7.14(56)
PHILLIP ISLAND 0.0 4.3 5.4 8.8(56)
SECOND SEMI AT NAR NAR GOON
INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 3.1 7.2 11.6 12.9(81)
PHILLIP ISLAND 2.3 5.4 8.5 12.8(80)
HEAD-TO-HEAD IN WGFNC 2017-2023
Phillip Island 5
Inverloch-Kongwak 4
Draw 1
KEY PLAYERS
Inverloch-Kongwak
Nick Baltas: Half Forward-Mid
Has only played two games of footy since round 12 – in round 18 and the second semi-final against Phillip Island – but is the type of player that could take this grand final by the absolute scruff of the neck. Wanders around the ground with an unusual gait, but when it’s time to go, it’s time to go, and Baltas only needs a split second of time, and a phone box worth of space, to inflict maximum damage. A burst player with great one-touch skills, who put his name in lights with a purple-patch of form between rounds six to nine. He kicked 17 goals in four weeks and is a real worry for the Bulldogs in the big one.
Andrew Soumilas: Inside Mid
You don’t win five league best and fairest awards by being a hack, and Soumilas is right near the top of the tree when it comes to footballers that have graced the region over the last two decades. His inside work is simply elite, he is a master of his craft, and even nearing the end of his magnificent career, still stands out as the ‘conductor’ as the Sea Eagles midfield orchestrates its set ups. Don’t look for him out wide, he won’t be there, but if the football purest is watching…you’re in for a special treat. If the Sea Eagles burst from stoppage…it’s a pretty good guess as to where it was created.
Michael Eales: Full-Back
Was one of seven changes the Sea Eagles made ahead of the second semi-final, and looked a little underdone early after five weeks on the sidelines. But he worked into the game well and is going to be so pivotal to the outcome of this year’s premiership. Cameron Pedersen is Phillip Island’s trump-card…everyone is aware of that…and Eales has the physique, determination, belief, and will-to-win to take it right up to the champ. Xavier Hughes is another with those traits, but Eales should get first crack at Pedersen and their battle will go a long way towards deciding who wins the most important game of the season.
Phillip Island
Cameron Pedersen: Forward-Ruck
We can’t be taken seriously if we don’t have the Bulldogs coach in the Players to Watch in the big one. Is clearly the most influential player in West Gippsland football and only needs to put his kicking boots on to be a potential match-winner. Has the best hands in the business, and when he sets his sights on a groundball is the most intimidating physical presence in the competition. This bloke is the complete package, not only with the skills to hurt quickly on the scoreboard but with his ability to play the ‘Pied Piper’. His Bulldogs lift when he does…the most important player at Denhams Road on Saturday.
Jack Taylor: Anywhere
No-one embodies the spirit of Phillip Island like their inspirational skipper, who has had a magnificent season at either end of the ground. His versatility is second to none, with Pedersen filling any hole that needs filling with the ‘Bison’. Last week he played centre-half-back for three quarters, before Pedersen slipped him into the midfield to provide a much-needed spark. Has the mindset to inflict damage, and the physique to back it up, and has silky skills for a player of his dimensions. Has played more finals (18) than anyone at the ‘Kennel’ over the last decade, including three premierships. Will he claim a fourth…this time as skipper…only time will tell!
Hayden Bruce: Midfield
These two teams have had a draw and a one-point result over their previous two engagements (round 18 and second semi-final) and Bruce looms large as the player that can most change that dynamic. The ‘snowy blonde’ left-footer was leading the WGFNC league medal until fracturing his cheekbone in round 15…and hasn’t played since. Some of the 16 goals he has kicked this year have wreaked of class, and he provides the x-factor that Baltas will dish up for the Sea Eagles. Will he or won’t he play? That’s the big question on everyone’s lips. If he does, he’ll be impossible to miss and a huge part of the Bulldogs aggressive ball-movement.
THE TIP
This premiership looked to be Inverloch-Kongwak’s from a long way out, but things have obviously tightened in recent times. The heat? The skinny ground? Inverloch’s lack of activity? The impact…if any…of Hayden Bruce? They’re all relevant questions to ask.
League Operations Manager Brett Tessari has been close to executing the extra-time policy in recent weeks…with one-point games a common theme through finals. Finally, he will get to use it this weekend. It’s going to be a draw…with Pedersen to lead the Bulldogs to a five-point victory in extra time.
