Three Bairnsdale teams will play in the Gippsland League grand finals in Morwell tomorrow.
In the football, the under 18s clash with Traralgon, while the under 16s face Sale. On the netball court the Redlegs’ 15 and under team will go head-to-head with the Magpies.
“Take the stairs not the lift.”
That is the motto of the Bairnsdale’s under 16 footballers as they march into their match against Sale.
Coach, David Dunkley, believes that by putting in the hard work his side will get the result it is after.
“Team-first is a big thing for the side,” Dunkley said.
“We don’t want guys being selfish. We want them to be selfless and we use the motto, take the stairs not the lift, as a reminder that you have to put the hard work in.
“It’s easy to take the lift, but if you don’t put in the hard work there is no reward.”
The Redlegs finished the home and away season as minor premiers but hit a speed bump in their semi final against the Magpies, losing by four points.
This time around there are no second chances and Dunkley knows that his side is up to the challenge.
“It has been proven all year that when we play team footy we go alright, but when we go away from that we let sides back into the game,” he said.
“I told the boys through the week to enjoy it and take their chances because you can’t just take for granted that you are going to play in a grand final.
“Lots of people never get to play in them and it is an opportunity for them to do something special together.”
Dunkley is nearing the end of his first season as the under 16s coach and has loved every minute of it.
“I’ve loved seeing the growth, not only from a football perspective, but the growth in the boys into young men,” he said.
According to Dunkley the game will be won and lost in the midfield.
“Sale has a dominant ruckman so we need to be more defensive in the midfield, limit their use of the ball and be tighter on their onballers,” Dunkley said.
On the biggest stage of the season where many sides have failed to shine before, staying cool under pressure and using the ball well will be crucial.
“Our ball use and skills are good and if we can get the ball on the outside and use our skills it will be good,” Dunkley said.
“We have got to win the contested footy, but also get it out in the open and use our pace and our skills.
“We attack through half back and switch. We have got to keep taking the game on.
“We also have got to be tight down the backline and respect our opponents.
“Last week Will O’Keefe, Liam Scott and Harrison Hopkins played important roles down back, allowing us to free up some guys and push them up onto a wing and through the middle of the ground.
“Normally Reece Carstairs and Lachie Huggins are on a back flank but by having those guys step up gave us that freedom to push those guys up the middle of the ground.
“It is good to have those bigger guys through the middle.”
Bairnsdale full forward, Byron Vickery, had an exceptional year, winning the league goalkicking with 44 majors.
“Byron is very important, but we just need to make sure we give him support so it’s not all on his shoulders at the end of the day,” Dunkley said.
“We need other guys to step up and take their opportunities. Along with that our forward half pressure is crucial.
“It’s about keeping it in and setting up a wall. We need to just keep banging it back in and keep that forward line open.”
The game will kick off at 8.30am.
PICTURED: Bairnsdale under 18 hard nosed midfielder, Charlie Mein, will play a huge role in his side’s Gippsland League grand final clash against Traralgon at Morwell tomorrow morning.
