By Marcus Uhe
For the third time in as many years, the final spot in the Outer East Football Netball grand final will be determined via a preliminary final stoush between a pair of Yarra Valley rivals in Wandin and Woori Yallock.
Woori Yallock got the chocolates in a hard-fought seven-point win at Healesville in 2022, holding off a final quarter surge from the Bulldogs to advance to grand final day, before Wandin turned the tables in a demolition at Yarra Junction in 2023 on its way to premiership glory a week later.
Given the split at one win apiece, a third outing is only fitting in splitting the ledger.
And wouldn’t you know it, through two contests in 2024, each side bagged one win each – both winning away from home.
Woori Yallock’s defeat of the Bulldogs at the kennel in the midst of a nine-game undefeated streak to open the season was avenged in round 14 when Wandin turned the tables at Woori Yallock.
But given the match was played in inclement conditions during a particularly savage period of Melbourne’s winter, with copious amounts of water and mud above the playing surface, it’s difficult to ascertain too many outcomes or takeaways.
With the upcoming contest to be played at Officer’s Rob Porter Recreation Reserve, the playing conditions and size of the ground are expected to greatly suit Wandin, which thrives in open spaces and using its foot skills.
It will be the first time since last year’s grand final triumph that the Bulldogs will venture back to Officer, a venue no doubt carrying happy memories of the successes 12 months prior.
Woori Yallock lost no admires in last week’s loss to Narre Warren, but they will be disappointed in having relinquished such a strong position earlier in the game, and being forced to earn their spot in the decider in another preliminary final.
Resilient, gritty and always hard to play against, nothing will be left in the Woori Yallock tank when they leave Officer, with what they will be hoping is a return ticket a week later for the biggest day of the season.
Woori Yallock will possess an advantage in the ruck, thanks to a combination of Zach Monkhorst, and Wandin’s flexibility with its approach in the middle of the ground, without a recognised established ruckman.
Against Mt Evelyn it was key forward Clint Johnson given the assignment in the middle, while last week it was Charlie Wood that shouldered much of the responsibility.
Monkhorst has been one of the competition’s best big men in recent years and his athleticism may force the Bulldogs to go with Wood, leaving Johnson in the forward 50.
A showdown in the middle between Angus Smith, Jordan Williams, Liam O’Dea and Kody Busoli against Patrick Bruzzese, Chayce Black, Damien Furey and Macauley Beckwith will have spectators salivating, while Aaron Mullett remains one of the competition’s biggest wildcards and hardest match ups, particularly if he is deployed in the middle of the ground.
This could be one that comes down to the wire, and Woori Yallock’s fresh legs may hold them in better stead, but Wandin thrived on continuity last season and appear to be playing at their best at the right time of the season.
It’s one of the hardest games of the season to tip, but given the venue and open space the Bulldogs thrive in, Wandin may be better placed to make it back-to-back grand final appearances.
Tip: Woori Yallock v WANDIN
