Football
Can Euroa cause what many would say is not possible in 2022 and beat Echuca?
Mooroopna was the only team to do it in the final home and away round.
Maybe coach Scott Rowan needs to go back to see what the Cats did so well that day and try to replicate it.
That is easier said than done, especially when you look at Echuca’s form during the finals.
The Murray Bombers have been ruthless in brushing aside Mansfield and Euroa to qualify for the big dance.
They have stars on every line and loads of experience when it comes to big game players, including co-coach Andrew Walker who played over 200 games for Carlton.
That said, Euroa is no short in big game experience either, with Jack Hellier playing over 100 VFL games.
For the Pies to end their premiership drought – last won in 1990, they are going to need everyone to play out of their skin. Even that might not be good enough because this Echuca team probably doesn’t have too many weaknesses.
Euroa will be buoyed by the fact that they were able to get over the top of Mansfield in last Sunday’s preliminary final.
The worry though is last Sunday’s preliminary final was a good old-fashioned contest and there no doubt there will be some blokes nursing some sore bodies.
The Pies are likely to be at full strength, with Adam Giobbi and Max Gleeson set to return after missing last week’s win.
The Murray Bombers will be missing gun midfielder Jack McHale through suspension, but ruckman and skipper Kane Morris is free to play after he was cleared by the independent tribunal.
I think the Murray Bombers finished first for a reason and they will have the motivation to go that one step further after failing short in 2019. Tip: Echuca
Netball
What a grand final it shapes to be between the combatants of the last completed Goulburn Valley League big dance.
On that day in September 2019, it was Seymour which triumphed over Shepparton United.
During the past month the two have done battle twice, with United coming out of top.
That said, Seymour did win the earlier meeting between the teams at Kings Park.
This promises to be a season decider from the ages, with some brilliant match-ups all over the court.
The Lions might just take a bit more experience into the grand final, with still a few who remain from that 2019 successful team.
The battle between Sarah Szczykulski and Nakita Singe up against Jessie Barnes and Sophie Garner will be massive to determining which way the contest falls.
Barnes is almost unstoppable when she is on her game like she has been for the Demons during the finals.
She has been a star in both of the wins and if she is on, then the Demons will take some beating.
For her to be on song, she will need her team-mates like playing coach Kara Blizzard and fellow mid-court Tayla Clohesy to be feeding her.
But the Demon duo won’t have it all their own way with Casey Adamson and Rosie O’Sullivan to make it difficult for them.
Seymour goaler Jess Lallo has been extremely accurate with the opportunities she is getting during the finals coupled with brilliant support from playing coach Ellie O’Sullivan.
The Seymour duo will have their work cut out against outstanding young Demon defenders Olivia Kirby and Laura Cole.
Other players who will play a role will be Grace McInneny for the Demons and Courtney Aldous for the Lions.
It promises to be a classic and one that goes down to the wire.
I do like the Demons to get the job done and turn the tables on the Lions for their disappointment of 2019.
Tip: Shepparton United.
