DIVISION 2 GRAND FINAL PREVIEW: ALBION VS SUNSHINE
Another chapter is set to be written in one of the Western Football Netball League’s biggest rivalries when Albion and Sunshine meet in the 2024 Division 2 Senior Men’s Grand Final.
The competition’s benchmark teams will clash for the fourth time this year and for the 85th time in their history with a premiership cup on the line at Pennell Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
After reaching last year’s decider and falling two points short against Parkside, Albion has enjoyed a perfect season to date collecting the minor premiership with an undefeated home and away season before winning straight through to a second consecutive Grand Final.
After a nine-win season and fourth place finish last year, Sunshine achieved 16 home and away wins in 2024 to finish second on the ladder with its only losses coming against Albion, the third of those in the Second Semi Final two weeks ago.
Similar to this season, Albion has come out on top when the two teams have previously played off in Grand Finals with the Cats victorious in the 1985 Division 1 decider and again in the last game of the 1994 Division 2 season.
However, with both teams moving up to a new 12-team Division 1 competition in 2025, Saturday’s match is the chance for one club to add another premiership cup to its trophy cabinet.
Albion will be chasing its first piece of silverware since the club’s 2010 Division 1 triumph, while a victory for Sunshine would give the Kangaroos their first flag in almost 50 years, their last premiership coming in 1976.
As the competition’s clear-cut best two sides, both Albion and Sunshine possess plenty of depth and talent.
Minor premiers Albion are strong across every line with the best midfield in the competition made up of Josh Bench and brothers Caleb and Darcy McPherson.
The Cats have a bevy of avenues to goal most notably through Jesse Cavanagh (73 goals), co-captain Cooper Muir (72 goals) and Chris Tomazos (41 goals), and just as many options in defence with the likes of Cody Bench, Daniel Bramich, Josiah Garisto and Dylan Sloman.
Sunshine has had standouts in league leading goal kicker Nathan Carroll who enters the Grand Final with 111 majors to his name, while at the opposite end of the ground Daniel Torcia is the key pillar leading the defence.
Matthew Cravino and captain Patrick O’Keefe have been brilliant in the middle of the ground alongside Murray Boyd, arguably the competition’s best ruckman, while Fabian Brancatisano at halfback and the crafty Mathew Medcraft are hitting their best form at the right time of the year.
With that said it all makes for exciting final game of the year.
WHAT THE COACHES SAY
Albion – Blake Richards
“Getting there last year was probably a surprise for a lot of people but I thought we had a really good list, and we just fell short. That result drove the group to train hard in the preseason and lift our professionalism and expectations. Before last year Albion had been down for a bit and with most of our guys being Albion juniors, they are willing to work and win at all costs. The rivalry between Albion and Sunshine is a really long one, it brings people to games and emotions fly, passion is what football is about. I’ve played for both clubs so experienced it as a player, and I think the rivalry between the current group of players has built over the past two years. We’re definitely cautious of them (Sunshine) they are coming off a pretty good win and are playing some really good footy at the moment, but I think we’re a really good side and we can’t wait to get out there on Saturday.”
Sunshine – Guy Barbuto
“There were probably no limits to our expectations at the start of the year. We knew we had a good group of players, and we just wanted to play the best brand of footy that we could, to get us as far as it could. We started the year struggling for some continuity but we’re playing some really good footy now and baring a couple of season-ending injuries we feel we’re well placed going into Saturday. They’ve obviously beaten us all three times this year but apart from probably a 15-minute patch in the Semi Final the game could have gone either way. It’s been an enormous year for the club with our Thirds up to our Seniors playing off in Grand Finals. To have three teams involved on Saturday is huge for the club, it’s been a great week so far and now we’re looking forward to Saturday coming around.”
2024 HEAD-TO-HEAD
Round 6 – Sunshine 8.13 (61) def by Albion 9.16 (70)
Round 15 – Albion 9.12 (66) def Sunshine 4.5 (29)
Semi Final 2 – Albion 10.8 (68) def Sunshine 6.8 (44)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Albion – Caleb McPherson
An absolute star who can dominate in so many ways. Has taken his game to a new level after spending the year training with the Northern Bullants before being rewarded with three VFL games. The best clearance player in the competition, strong over the ball and tackles as hard as anyone. Also goes forward with great affect tallying 31 goals this season with multiple majors in 10 of his 16 outings.
Sunshine – Mathew Medcraft
Capable of turning a game in a matter of minutes with a special act or by hitting the scoreboard and contributing crucial goals. Was one of the standouts in the Preliminary Final win over Newport with a game-high four goals. One of Sunshine’s most consistent performers in the backend of the year and has kicked 18 of his 29 goals in the past six games while appearing in the best four times. Big game player.
Division 2 Senior Men’s Grand Final
Saturday 14th September, 2:30pm – Pennell Reserve, Braybrook