Will The Vampires End The Blood's Fairy Tale?

88.3 Southern FM Match of the Day Broadcast

Saturday 12th September

Division 3 - Grand Final

Black Rock vs Mount Waverley

Heatherton Recreation Reserve, Ross Street, Heatherton

Broadcast time 2:00pm - 5:30pm

 

Sunday 13th September

Division 1 - Preliminary Final

East Brighton vs Mordialloc

Springvale Reserve, Newcomen Road, Cheltenham

Broadcast time 2:00pm - 5:00pm

 

Sunday Football Netball Show

Tune in on Sunday morning to catch Wiz, Coutta and the Bug as they discuss all things Southern Football Netball League on The Sunday Football Netball Show. This week they are broadcasting live from Springvale Reserve ahead of the Division 1 Preliminary Final between East Brighton and Mordialloc. The Sunday Football Netball Show is proudly supported by Ivan’s Pies, and by simply tuning in for the latest news and views, you could win some delicious prizes courtesy of Ivan’s Pies.

 

On air 10.30am – 12.00pm (88.3 Southern FM) or listen direct from sfnllive.com.au.

 

Podcasts of last week’s broadcast match and Sunday Footy Show are available above, via ‘Media’, then ‘Radio’, then ‘Podcasts’.

 

The Division 3 Grand Final edition of the SFNL Record can be downloaded by clicking HERE. Earlier issues are available via ‘Media’, then ‘SFNL Record’.

 

This week’s winners of the BLK Players of the Round have been announced – to see who’s won, click on the ‘News’ option above and select ‘BLK Player of the Round’.

 

Division 1 - Preliminary Final Preview

With Good Will Hunter

Twitter@Will_Hunter89

Preliminary Final – Sunday 13th September

East Brighton vs Mordialloc (Springvale Reserve)

The stage is set for a massive clash between the Vampires and the Bloods with the winner to advance to the Division 1 Grand Final next Sunday.

East Brighton were comfortable winners in both meetings between the two sides this season. The most recent encounter was a crushing 51-point crushing in the final round of the home and away season three weeks ago.

But since that loss Mordialloc have pulled off two tremendous finals wins and are giving themselves the best chance possible for a fairy-tale finish to the year.

We will again see two teams looking to play two contrasting brands of football. The Bloods are not an overly tall, nor solidly-built side, so they prefer to win the ball on the outside and run. This is where they play their best footy, as we saw during the third term last week.

The vast open space at Springvale is certainly conducive to that style of play, and the similarities between this venue and their home ground have been well documented in this column.

East Brighton, meanwhile, will look to lock the ball up and create stoppages at every opportunity. This will nullify the Bloods’ runners, as it did Dingley’s for most of last Saturday.

The Vampires have got some quality players running through their midfield, however, several had their colours lowered on Saturday. Damien Rayson in particular was down on his normal output after missing the win over East Malvern a fortnight ago, so expect a much bigger impact from him on Sunday.

But Mordialloc coach Sam Anstey is the one that looms as the potential match-winner. He may not be a prolific accumulator of possessions, but all of his touches are top quality and he has an ability to impact every single contest. If the Bloods are going to cause an upset here, he will be the man causing the damage.

Mordi are certainly entering this do-or-die battle in terrific form and this should make for a stunning contest. East Brighton, meanwhile, haven’t quite been at their best in the last couple of weeks, but we all know their best is certainly good enough. They are a very good football side, the Vampires, and expect their class to show through and get them over the line in a thriller.

 

Division 2 - Preliminary Final Preview

With Jason Barbin

Twitter@JBarbin10

The second biggest week of the football year is upon us; Preliminary Final week will decide just who makes it onto football’s biggest stage.

Preliminary Final – Saturday 12th September

Murrumbeena vs Caulfield (Jack Barker Oval)

I’ll be the first to admit that I did not envisage these two sides meeting in a match to decide who will play off in a Grand Final. It has been a remarkable year for the Murrumbeena Football Club, which has made believers out of critics including a certain radio team member who shall remain nameless – cough cough Johnny Tak cough cough.

The Beena have relied on a strong defensive presence on the field all season and it has held them in good stead so far. They have the ability to keep the ball in their half of the ground for long periods of time and have an underrated forward line that is capable of sneaking up on opponents.

That forward line is led by Anthony Ekberg-Weiss and Alex Moloney while dangerous swingman Dean Spanos is one player who has the ability to turn the game on its head, whether it be in the midfield or up forward. Despite a disappointing finals series so far, if the Bears aren’t on the lookout for him than they might find themselves packing their bags early.

Caulfield has been a surprise packet itself this finals series, after two strong upset wins against Skye and Keysborough following a tough upset victory over Oakleigh District in order to just make the finals. Adam Connell has been in superb form up forward and will be the focal point of the Bear’s attack.

Glenn Nye has had a solid finals series thus far while the likes of Jake Buggy and Jason Twirdy will look to be dangerous in the clearances and will search for an opportunity to hurt their opponent on the scoreboard, whether it be setting up a goal or sneaking into the forward line to kick one themselves.

This game will be extraordinarily tense but equally as exciting as neither side was expected to end up in this position at the start of the season. Shayne Sheedy and the rest of the Oakleigh District side will be eagerly looking on as these two Cinderella stories go head to head in a battle for the final spot in the Division 2 Grand Final, and a chance to move up to the top flight of football.

It will be hard to pick a winner but a winner I must pick. Although it is hard to separate these two sides I had the pleasure of watching them do battle earlier in the season and both sides showed the ability to control the game on the day. But in the end Murrumbeena was too strong in that contest and I believe it will be the team to beat.

Murrumbeena by 12 points.

 

Click here to read Andrew Paloczi's preview of Saturday's Division 3 Grand Final between Black Rock and Mount Waverley.

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