By Marcus Uhe
It was only ever going to be this configuration, wasn’t it?
The second semi-final between Narre Warren and Wandin served as the perfect entree for this grand final main course.
Two weeks later, we’re set for a spectacle fitting of the competition’s two best sides all year.
Will the Magpies make it three premierships in a row, doing as Magpies do, in winning premierships for fun? Or can the Bulldogs upset the discourse and break through for their first since 2018?
Having played just once compared to Wandin’s three times in September, Narre Warren be fresh, but if any side could knock them off, with depth and star-power across every line, it would be the Bulldogs, the only team to do so in 2023.
No team piled the points on against Narre Warren more than Wandin did back in round two, while 64 points in the semi final was the lowest team score they had been restricted to.
Conversely, two of the Bulldogs’ three lowest scores of the year came against the black and white.
The difference between the combined margins across the previous encounters is just four points in Narre Warren’s favour, yet the gap doesn’t feel that wide.
RECENT HISTORY
Round 2: Wandin 21.13 139 def Narre Warren 14.17 101.
A charged-up Bulldogs make an early season statement on their home deck, knocking-off the Magpies for the first time in the club’s history. It’s rare for the Magpies to concede like that, while missing Kurt Mutimer and Will Howe didn’t help.
Round 11: Narre Warren 13.18 96 def Wandin 9.3 57.
An arm-wrestle for much of the afternoon at Kalora Park, the Magpies kicked away in two crucial stretches with the wind to keep the Bulldogs at bay, but really could have won by more, had they kicked straight.
Second semi final: Narre Warren 9.10 64 def Wandin 9.7 61.
The game of the year in Premier Division. Narre Warren kicked away to a 22-point lead during the third term before Wandin hit the front midway through the last. A Tom Miller snap put the Magpies ahead with five minutes remaining, and Wandin couldn’t find the answer in the tense dying stages.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Kurt Mutimer (NW) v Joel Garner (WD)
Two of the best credentialed midfielders in the competition. A pair of big bodies to bash and crash in the middle of the park and allow the ball users to be most effective on the outside. Wandin wanted Garner back in the side with this match-up in mind.
Will Howe (NW) v Todd Garner (WD)
Howe was held goalless by Garner the semi final, the first time that the Division’s leading goalkicker has failed to impact the scoreboard since early last year.
Cameron Miller (NW) v Aaron Mullett (WD)
Miller contained the explosive Mullett well in the semi final when deep in defence thanks to his speed off the mark and long reach, but the former Blue and Kangaroo cut lose when he pushed into the midfield later in the game. If Miller can keep him under wraps, that will go a long way to another Narre win.
TIP: If the second semi final was any indication of what’s to come, then footy fans in for a treat.
Both coaches have as close to full-strength lists as they could ask for, with VFL players such as Peter Gentile (Narre Warren) Joel Garner and Connor Smith (both Wandin) back in their respective folds.
The Bulldogs will come out firing and lead for much of the afternoon, before the fresh legs of the Magpies carry them home by 9 points, with Tom Toner named best-on-ground.
