Saints, Eagles try for repeats against Lions, Tigers

THE stage is set for a cracking Saturday of Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) action with two teams preparing to defend their crowns and two others trying to take them.

St Mary’s football and Newtown & Chilwell’s netball sides reign as premiers three years on from 2019, but Leopold and Colac will be trying to spoil their attempts at a repeat.

Unlike previous years at Kardinia Park, Grand Final Day will be held at St Albans, an oval that caters to both the Saints and Lions fast-paced running game according to St Mary’s captain Jack Blood.

“We’re two very similar sides from our matchups to pretty much everything, our styles of play are pretty similar, so it will be a very entertaining game of football suited to both sides,” Blood said.

“There probably will be a big emphasis on that first quarter, particularly if there’s a bit of wind or what not, but you’ve still got to play four quarters of football.”

Leopold captain Marcus Thompson is only one of handful of Lions that were a part of 2016’s premiership over the Saints, but this Saturday’s contest on the back of a stellar finals run is the biggest challenge of the season according to the Lions skipper.

“From week-to-week, Buddha (Garry Hocking) is really good at keeping continuity within the group, from training on Tuesday and Thursday, to our mindset of knowing we need to win each game and playing each opponent on its merit,” Thompson said.

“We go in with a simple focus, not looking any further than that, so it’s been really good for us to build this momentum against a side like St Mary’s.”

For the better half of a decade, GNL Premierships trophies have been stacking up for seven years at Elderslie Reserve and now the Eagles are one win away from an eighth-straight flag.

“Considering a lot of the players on both teams know each through Geelong Cougars, it’s going to be a bloody good game if I’m honest,” Eagles captain Julia Woolley said.

“Colac has strengths all over the court, so for us it will come down to each of us playing our roles for 60 minutes.”

Colac has yet to win a GNL A Grade Premiership, losing its two Grand Final attempts in 2001 and 2009.

Tigers goal-keeper Brooke Allan said the community around Colac has had a buzz in the air since the side’s one-point win over South Barwon in the Preliminary Final.

“After what was a stressful prelim, it was great for the club as a whole to see so many of our sides competing in finals, as well as our B Grade side who will play in the game before us on Saturday,” Allan said.

“The last time Colac was in an A Grade Grand Final, I think I was in Under 13s or 15s, so there is an older generation at the club who are really excited too.

“It’s been a long road, but we’ve made it to the final hurdle.”

Seniors football will start at 2.10pm and A Grade netball will start at 3pm.