Boisdale Briagolong and Lucknow will renew acquaintances in the reserves grand final.
The Bombers kept the Magpies goalless in the qualifying final, progressing straight through to the grand final with an impressive 24-point victory in less than ideal conditions.
Lucknow got its confidence back with an easy 16-point win over Stratford in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
Both sides will go in close to full strength given the two combatants will also line up in the senior grand final.
Lucknow’s side is littered with talent, led by Khai Collins and Shaun Ryan up forward, both capable of kicking a bag.
Logan Croucher, Tyron Turner, Jack Kennedy and Kyran McNaughton all impressed last week through the midfield, while James Sanford, 400-game veteran Leigh Stephenson, Luke Belfrage, Josh Carroll, Tim Keyte and Scott Joustra are better than average reserves players.
Boisdale will go in fit and raring to go after a week off, with key forward Danny Pratt looking to complete the grand slam having already picked up the league goal kicking and best and fairest.
Cooper Bailey, Matt Hinks, Cal Henning, Ben Missen, Ben Bould and Broden Kewish have all played senior football in the past two years at one of the powerhouses in the competition.
Josh Neille, Jason Langshaw, coach Nathan Sellings and Shaun Bates have played plenty of football and the Bombers certainly won’t lack anything in experience.
The wind has made the seconds matches in the finals very ordinary, not spectator friendly, but hopefully this week the sides can enjoy ideal conditions to show what they are made of in front of huge crowd.
Otherwise it may become another slog, with the side that gets the early wind advantage playing negative football in the second quarter to maintain a lead.
