“It has been a really good year”.
East Gippsland Football Netball League president, Andrew Powell, is thrilled with how the 2019 season panned out.
“Getting Boisdale Briagolong in the senior grand final for the first time is fantastic,” he said.
“It is the first time its seniors have made the finals since coming in. It is really for the league that they are having success.
“The seniors and reserves have the same sides, but beyond that the netball is well and truly divided up this year.
”The under 17s have two different teams.”
Powell is hoping to better last year’s turnout as Boisdale Briagolong and Lindenow meet in the seniors and reserves, while Lakes Entrance and Wy Yung clash in the under 17s.
The senior game is expected to be a fiery affair following the suspension of Boisdale Briagolong veteran, Leigh Fulford, at the tribunal this week.
Fulford was among three players from the Bombers’ semi final victory over Lindenow to face the tribunal, but the only one suspended, copping two weeks for unbecoming conduct on Lindenow’s Paul Gould. He also has a two-week suspended sentence hanging over his head for 12 months.
Believing the penalty was too harsh, Boisdale last night lodged an appeal into the suspension, a GoFundMe page raising the $5500 required to lodge an appeal with AFL Vic Country.
In the same game, Boisdale teammate, Nic Campbell, was fined $200 and received a two-week suspended sentence for unbecoming conduct, as did Lindenow’s Justin Blair for the same report.
On the netball court, Orbost Snowy and Stratford will contest the “A” grade grand final, while the Tigers and Lakes Entrance go head-to-head to decide the “B” grade decider. Stratford and Lindenow are aiming for “C” grade glory and the Swans battle the Tigers in “D” grade.
Wy Yung and the Blues meet in the 17 and 15 and under netball deciders.
“I think with the nice weather conditions and the lack of wind we should get a reasonable crowd,” Powell said.
“The last two years have been really good. It has been picking up as we go along and I am expecting another big crowd on Saturday.”
Powell said the league’s volunteers play a pivotal role in ensuring that more than 650 netball and football matches are played each year.
“We are very lucky,” he said.
“I am not sure how other leagues work, but we are extremely lucky to have the amount of volunteers we have who do tremendous work.
“Trainers, people that set up things on the ground, empty bins and do stuff around the clubs are all important.
“We are fortunate and lucky enough to have these people.”
Powell is tipping the Bombers to break their flag drought and Orbost Snowy to get the chocolates in the main games.
“I wish all the teams all the best for Saturday,” he said.
“For some people they are playing in their first ground final. You wish them all the best and some success.
“I am going for Boisdale Briagolong by four goals. I think Orbost Snowy will win the grand final by six goals. If I didn’t go with the Blues Doc (Royston Nettleton) would probably kill me.”
PICTURED: Lindenow’s Gus Fortune and Wy Yung’s Jimmy Beha compete in the ruck during the Cats’ 35-point East Gippsland senior football preliminary final victory last Saturday at Bairnsdale City Oval. Lindenow plays Boisdale Briagolong in the decider tomorrow.
