| EAST GIPPSLAND NEWSPAPERS 14 EGFNL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 The makings of a classic After one of the closest seasons on record, Lucknow and Boisdale Briagolong will play off in this Saturday’s East Gippsland Football Netball League (EGFNL) senior grand final at the Bairnsdale City Oval. Both sides have been towards the pointy end of the ladder for most of the season, but at various times Wy Yung and Stratford have looked likely serious contenders for the holy grail. THE MISSION Both sides began the season on a mission, the Bombers keen to bounce back and taste ultimate glory after going down in last year’s decider to Wy Yung. They added Will Brunt, Jackson Glenane, James Whelan, Matt Hinks, Nicol Sandison and Toby Leeds to their list and got a full season commitment from Matt Wilkinson. Jesse Bedggood joined from Heyfield but his stay was cut short by a serious knee injury. Lucknow was smarting after missing the finals last season and worked hard in the off season to put together a list that iss capable of winning the flag. Additions to list included Jessie Pescod, Nick George, Andrew Nelson, Zack Smith, Connor McAullife and Jake Green. Sadly George, when leading the competition best and fairest, suffered a similar injury to Jesse Bedggood. TIME BETWEEN DRINKS Both sides feel they are overdue for some major silverware. It was 2001 when Boisdale Briagolong won its last senior premiership, back in the Riviera Football League. After joining the EGFNL in 2015 they are still to break their duck despite two attempts in 2019 and 2023. The Magpies are foundation members of the EGFNL and have won three pennants in the competition’s proud 50-year history, the last being in 2012. HISTORY It is the seventh season in a row the second semi final loser has won the preliminary final and made their way through to the big dance. In the past 15 seasons the second semi final winner has gone on to win the flag 12 times, which will bring a smile to Magpie fans. The last time they didn’t was 2019 when Lindenow won after losing to Boisdale Briagolong in the second semi final - maybe that’s an omen. THE SEASON The Bombers finished on top of ladder after the home and away season, losing just two games, one at home to Lucknow by two points, before again being beaten at home by Orbost Snowy Rovers in round six by just five points. Boisdale Briagolong then won 12 games in a row prior to being beaten by the Magpies by two points in the second semi final. What does that tell you? if the Bombers are to lose, it will be narrowly. Lucknow was defeated three times in the home and away rounds, losing to Wy Yung twice and Boisdale at home in round 11 by 22 points. GAME PLANS Both sides have had to make adjustments to their core game plans throughout the season, the Bombers opting for a smaller forward structure after the injury to Jesse Bedggood. Their set up focuses on skipper Jim Reeves, the rejuvenated Cal Egan and Will Brunt, with support from midfielder Tom Jolly and small forwards, coach Sam Bedggood and the evolving Tim Dessent. Their line up is in great stead as they put together 12 wins in succession before the narrow semi final hiccup. Interestingly, because of the dominance of competition intercept king, Andrew Nelson, the Bombers are keen to tinker with another tall on grand final day, looking to work Leeds and Wilkinson into the structure to make Nelson more accountable. The loss of George caused a restructure in the centre of the ground for Lucknow, with players like Ash Smith, Glen Perkins, Jake Green, Logan Croucher, Nick Mooney, Jesse Glassborow, Zac Smith, four-time best and fairest Joel McNamara, forwards Jackson Smith and John Gooch also spend time at the coalface. The Magpies have tried to increase their scoring output in recent weeks with great success, coach Shaun Mooney delighted with the 14-goal return in the semi final. Lucknow is almost unbeatable when it kicks above 13 goals. ATTACK TIME Both sides have the artillery to kick a big score, the Bombers averaging 103 points per game, while the Magpies are just shy of 90. The Bombers get their goals from Reeves, Egan, Jolly, Brunt, Dessent, Bedggood, Porter and Wilkinson. Lucknow has a tall structure but it is no less potent. You could mount a case it is even better with players such as Gooch, Dallas and Jackson Smith, Bayley Croucher, Nick Mooney, Jake Richards, coach Shaun Mooney and potentially, Jessie Pescod all capable of split the big sticks. DEFENSIVE ZONE Both defences are miserly, the Magpies conceding just 47 points while the shorter Bomber set up goes at around 55. The Magpie defence is based around Nelson, Jack Saulle, Sam Park, Shaun Mooney, Jessie Pescod and Stevie Bertino, while for the Bombers the three Marshall brothers - Billy, Nick and Ryan - compliment the great work of Andrew Quirk who doesn’t mark as often as Nelson but is equally effective. Junior Bradshaw and Rhys Johnson run the back flanks for Boisdale, Bradshaw a weapon on his day, while Johnson never concedes a contest without a torrid battle. The Magpies could be tested by the speed of the Bomber forwards and the Lucknow tall forwards could test the smallish Boisdale back structure. BALL HUNTERS The match most likely will be won in the midfield with highly decorated Bomber, and still the best player in the competition, Kel Porter, looking to be the key man. Wilkinson and Jake Richards will go head-to-head in ruck, supported by Leeds and Dion Grace respetively. Richards jumped over Wilkinson in the semi final taking away his effectiveness at the ball ups, which made life harder for Porter who has an uncanny ability to end up with the ball at stoppages. From there he looks to feed it to Glenane, Jolly and the hard-nosed Daniel Johnson. The main onballers for the Magpies will be McNamara and Zack Smith, with the coaching staff rotating others through depending on the state of game. Johnson may tag McNamara. With Lucknow number one tagger Brenden Flinn out of the match with a three match suspension, options to tag Porter look a little slim. Although the Bombers are favoured to do plenty of damage on the inside, the Magpies will look to get plenty of drive from their wingmen in Ryan Halford and Glen Perkins, who might have too much pace and run for Paddy Mack, Shaymus Wain and James Whelan. VERDICT It looks set for as cracking contest with very little separating the exponents in the key indicators. The match has the potential to be a classic. Expect very little if anything to between the two sides when the siren sounds at the end of the fourth quarter. Extra time is a distinct possibility. Lucknow’s Joel McNamara and Boisdale Briagolong’s Kel Porter are arguably their sides’ most important player. they will go toeto-toe in a intriguing midfield battle. 149 Macleod Street, Bairnsdale | eastgippslandmyotherapy.com.au • TRIGGER POINT THERAPY • DRY NEEDLING • MASSAGE • CUPPING HOT & COLD THEAPIES • STRETCHING • KINGSTON TAPING • PNF STRETCHING • INSTRUMENT ASSISTED • SOFT TISSUE MOBILISATION FEELING THE PAIN AFTER A BIG GAME? Soft Tissue sport injury Specialist Call Aaron today or scan to book Hope all the teams & umpires have a successful day! PH: 0412 622 404 EN25337
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