WFNL Division Two Grand Finals Previews
By Evan Tudor
All eyes will turn to Yarraville Oval on Sunday as the WFNL Division Two football competition reaches its climax, with six teams battling it out for premiership glory in three stellar grand finals.
Division Two Seniors – North Footscray v Wyndhamvale
In a rematch of last year’s decider, North Footscray and Wyndhamvale will again go head-to-toe with the premiership flag in their sights.
Exactly 365 days on from last year’s Division Two Grand Final, the Falcons will be out to make it back-to-back premierships and see itself promoted to TIV Division One, while the Devils will seek revenge when it matters most.
Concluding the home and away season as the minor premier, North Footscray has been nothing but formidable.
The red-hot Devils put on a 17-1 record to waltz on to the finals in style, securing their spot in the grand final in a 79-point thumping win over West Footscray in the Major Semi Final.
With coach Robbie Hudson and captain Adam Petridis at the helm, the Devils find themselves in a very favourable position to go all the way.
Showing themselves to be one of the strongest sides in the competition, the Devils boast team cohesion with each player knowing their role perfectly, with the Devils’ strong Sherrin delivery in the forward line allowing for scoreboard success.
Boasting a strong tackling capability that’ll look to put pressure on the Falcons and a piercing handball strategy that can overcome any opponent, North Footscray will look to hoist the premiership cup for the first time since 2017.
But with no room for error, Robbie Hudson’s side must win when it matters most on Sunday, with the Devils’ only defeat of the season coming against Wyndhamvale by 16 points in Round 5.
Will North Footscray win its way back to the TIV Division One for the first time since 2013?
Wyndhamvale will hope that the promotion rights fall its way instead.
In last weekend’s Preliminary Final, the Falcons overcame the hopeful West Footscray outfit by 49 points.
After a tight first quarter against the Roosters, the Falcons took full flight to soar away winners.
Looking to guide the green and gold to back-to-back premierships, some of Wyndhamvale’s best will be on show in the Grand Final.
One of the standouts is Luke Di Mauro who was a terrier on the wing last weekend, winning several one-on-one contests.
Damon Stephens stands tall and impressive in the ruck, also showing his ability to hold firm with strong marks.
And there’ll be two names to watch in front of the big sticks for the Falcons, with Jack Tessari always posing as a danger when he can strike accurately, and Lewis Stanton looking to conclude his 100-goal season with even more.
Regardless of the result, history will be made late on Sunday afternoon with the winner finding themselves moving up to TIV Division One.
Will it be a historic Wyndhamvale back-to-back, or will North Footscray’s stunning year be capped off with a premiership?
Division Two Reserves – North Footscray v Wyndhamvale
Taking to the field late on Sunday morning at Yarraville Oval are North Footscray’s and Wyndhamvale’s reserves outfits who’ll meet in the big dance for the second straight year.
Last year, it was the Devils that claimed its sixth piece of Division Two Reserves silverware in a 6.11 (47) to 5.9 (39) victory.
Having not lost a game all year, North Footscray will enter as hot favourites on Sunday, but Wyndhamvale will hope that this is the weekend it soars to new heights.
While the Falcons were on the wrong side of the scoreboard in all three clashes against the Devils this year, Wyndhamvale now has the chance to throw down everything it’s got.
Matthew Paul will be one in the green and gold to watch, with the star Falcon dominating the reserves goalkicking competition with 88 majors. Kicking 12 from the finals series so far, how many more will he be able to add on Saturday?
Cameron Ord has also been fantastic, with 14 goals from 14 games and 12 best-on-ground honours to boast.
Looking for its second reserves premiership, Wyndhamvale will show no mercy on Sunday.
But will it be another case of too good, too strong for North Footscray?
It’s already been a season of showing no mercy for the Devils, with the red and white holding an average winning margin of 110 points after 18 triumphant matches.
Wyndhamvale has been a real test for the Devils however, getting as close as one point in Round 5, and 10 points in the Major Semi Final.
The Devils know how to combine for goals, with William Koziaris, Mohamed Mohamed, and Matthew Taylor putting through 60, 53, and 34 majors this season.
Manuel Naci will be another to watch after being named best-on in 10 of his 14 matches.
There’s talent everywhere you look, so this year’s Reserves Grand Final should be a beauty.
Will it be seventh heaven for the Devils, or a second Reserves flag for the Falcons?
Division Two Under 18s – Spotswood 2 v Caroline Springs
The next generation of WFNL stars will kick off Sunday’s proceedings at Yarraville Oval, with Spotswood 2 and Caroline Springs locking horns in the Division Two Under 18s Grand Final.
It’ll be a top-of-the-table clash, with the Woodsman finishing the home and away season as the minor premier, with a 15-2 record and percentage of 252.
Boasting a percentage of 328, the Lakers recorded 14-3 across the regular season, just falling short of the top spot.
It was an express trip to the Grand Final for Spotswood 2, with the green and gold recording a 39-point win over Tarneit in the Major Semi Final to book its place.
Caroline Springs, however, was made to work for its Grand Final ticket after a shock 13-point loss in the Qualifying Final to Tarneit.
Since then, the Lakers overcame Werribee Districts 2 in the Minor Semi Final and took revenge against Tarneit in the Preliminary Final.
And now, Spotswood 2 and Caroline Springs are on the starting blocks, ready to play the game of their lives.
Bradley Podoclzak will be one to watch for the Lakers after his 64-goal season saw him be named the best on in 10 of his 17 matches.
Teammate Leonardo Bektash also has an impressive 10 best-ons to boast, with the star Laker kicking 30 goals from 19 matches.
For Spotswood 2, it’ll be Ryley Hales who’ll look for another fantastic game, with one of the Woodsman’s best just four accurate kicks away from a half-century of goals.
In the only meeting between the Woodsman and Lakers this year, it was Caroline Springs that prevailed by 33 points.
Will Caroline Springs be able to do that all over again, or will Spotswood 2 flip the script and raise the premiership cup?