With the VFL preliminary finals played last week and won by Box Hill Hawks and Geelong VFL, only each other now stand in the way of ultimate glory.
Both teams only had to play in two of the three weeks in the finals to book their place in the big one. The teams were the best of the year placed first and second on the ladder as we look at their run to the Grand Final.
Geelong finished the year on top of the ladder with 16 wins and only two losses. They played the Casey Scorpions in the first round of the finals at Simonds Stadium and beat them convincingly by 49 points.
Shane Kersten (four goals) and George Horlin-Smith (22 disposals, one goal) were the best players for the Cats that day. This win gave them an extra week break as it booked them a place in the preliminary final.
As Geelong had the week off, they were able to fully prepare for the preliminary final, they were matched up against a strong outfit in Williamstown. The two teams had recently played five weeks previous, as Geelong came up victors in the Round 17 clash by 49 points.
Fans travelled to Port Melbourne for the preliminary final for what was expected to be a close encounter, but the Cats had other ideas.
Although Williamstown were coming off an 87 point thrashing of Port Melbourne the previous week, Geelong were by far the better side. Geelong ended up easing to victory and winning by a strong 82 points. Again, Shane Kersten (4 goals) and George Horlin-Smith (23 disposals) were the best for Geelong.
This game saw Geelong march into the Grand Final as they prepare to go back to back, while it was Williamstown’s last game affiliated with the Western Bulldogs.
Box Hill Hawks finished in second spot, three wins behind Geelong. The Hawks took on Williamstown at in the first week of finals.
The game was a close one in which the Hawks proved to be too strong as they ran over Williamstown in the last quarter.
Liam Tobin and Sam Grimley (three goals each) and Kyle Cheney (25 disposals) were best for Box Hill.
In the preliminary Final, the Hawks took on a strong and in form outfit in the Werribee Tigers. The two teams hadn’t played each other since the Round 11 clash at Werribee that saw Box Hill win the game by 43 points. The game went similar to the Round 11 match-up, as the Hawks were far too strong again and came out victors by 52 points. Shane Savage (five goals) and Liston trophy winner Mitch Hallahan (27 disposals) were the best for the Hawks.
Both teams have had very good years and fairly easy preliminary finals wins, but the two have only seen each other up close and personal in one game this year, and that was way back in Round 3.
The Round 3 match-up was a Geelong home game at Simonds Stadium.
The first half was won by the Hawks as they took a 10 point lead into half time and started the second half well by extending the lead by 8 points at three quarter time. But a never say die Geelong team kicked 4 goals 3 to the Hawks 2 goals 2 and ended up winning by five points.
The major contributors on the day for Geelong were Liston trophy winner Jordan Schroder (23 disposals, two goals), Josh Hunt (21 disposals, one goal) and Jackson Sheringham (15 disposals, seven tackles, one goal); the major players for Box Hill were Sam Iles (27 disposals), Jonathon Simpkin (20 disposals, two goals) and Will Langford (15 disposals, one goal).
With the two teams only facing each other once this year, it will be a very interesting match-up. With the game being played at Etihad Stadium, it should suit Geelong’s game style and provide a lot of space for their big men to lead up into.
Key players for Geelong will include all three big men; Josh Walker who kicked five goals last week in the preliminary final, Ryan Bathie and Shane Kersten who didn’t play in the last outing against Box Hill and could possibly be selected to play for Geelong AFL this Friday night.
If all play and are firing, then Geelong’s forward line could prove to be unstoppable.
Other key players in the Geelong team include Liston trophy winner Jordan Schroder and other Geelong AFL listed players; George Horlin-Smith, Jackson Sheringham, Billy Smedts, Jesse Stringer and Jackson Thurlow; Although, if Kersten doesn’t get picked to play for Geelong AFL, one of these players might.
Key players for Box Hill could also be selected to play in the AFL this Friday, although unlikely with the inclusions of Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli.
Shane Savage, who kicked five goals in the preliminary final last week, could prove to be a real x-factor with Liston trophy winner Mitch Hallahan and experienced Hawthorn veteran Michael Osborne also playing vital roles in helping Box Hill.
The game should definitely be an exciting match-up, as the two best teams in the VFL will fight out what has been an extraordinary year for both clubs. Geelong are looking to go back to back this year as Box Hill tries to get its second ever VFL premiership.
Geelong will go into the game as favourites but the Grand Final is a different ball game; if Box Hill are on and play their best then they should be able to match it with the best. It should be a close encounter like the last time they met.
My prediction is Geelong will win by under 10 points in a nail biter.
The game will be played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday September 22 at 2:15pm. The TAC Cup Grand Final will be played as a curtain raiser. The game will commence at 10:30 and be between the Eastern Ranges and the Dandenong Stingrays.
There will be plenty of young talent on display as Morrish Medal winner Ben Cavarra (Rangers) will be playing and, if picked, the potential number one draft pick Tom Boyd.
Get down to Etihad and support the future players of AFL and VFL football.
You can get tickets through Ticketmaster here or at the ground on the day.
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