Swans and Lions to duel for premiership glory

THE Geelong Football League’s most in-form sides will share the stage on Saturday afternoon at Leopold Memorial Park where this year’s premiership will be decided.

Leopold has won 14 of its past 16 contests and will get to host this year’s Grand Final at its home venue, but it will have to topple a South Barwon outfit in search of its first flag in a decade and coming off nine straight wins.

In South Barwon’s first season under former AFL coach Mark Neeld, the Swans had to secure a perfect run home from the middle of the season to secure a top three finish in the home-and-away season, finishing 10 per cent above Leopold in the standings.

Swans captain Matt Caldow then led his side to two straight wins in the finals to secure a Grand Final berth.

Caldow said his side is nothing but excited for this year’s Grand Final.

“We just continue to focus on getting better each week and ticking off little things, so, a new face, new group, new coaching staff, we’re all excited,” Caldow said.

“Our last couple of victories in finals were a real reward for our effort over the season, because we had a few close ones earlier in the year that didn’t go our way, then we got up with a couple of wins during the run home to the finals as well, it was a real reward for our group.”

Caldow and his side have not lost a GFL game since their clash against Leopold back in Round 11 on July 8, the sides’ only meeting in 2023, which Caldow described as a “bit of a hurricane”.

“It was a terrible day [conditions-wise], but I think both sides match up similarly, they’ve got tall backs that can take some intercept mark and so do we,” Caldow said.

“We both have strong key positions and good midfielders, so it should be a great battle.”

Leopold’s last premiership win came in 2016 when Lions captain Marcus Thompson was just 21 years of age.

The Lions also return to the GFL Grand Final for a second year in a row, losing the 2022 decider to St Mary’s by 45 points at St Albans Reserve.

For Thompson, there is an element of redemption that is driving his side to go one step further a year on from its defeat.

“I thinks it’s about looking at this year’s game through a different lens,” Thomson said.

“For us, there has been a lot of change, and there’s no point looking too far back, it’s all part of the journey when you lose a Grand Final.

“Sometimes you reflect on what you did right and what you did wrong, and you just try and learn from it.

“We think we’ve done that, and we hope to make the most of it come this weekend.”

Leopold’s reserves will clash with St Mary’s in the game before in what will be a massive day for the town.

Saturday’s Grand Final between the Swans and the Lions begins at 2.10pm.