EFL Media’s Matt Fotia previews all the upcoming finals action in Division 2…
Qualifying Final
Knox (1st, 17-1, WWW) v Doncaster East (2nd, 15-3, LWW)
The number one side in the competition all year, taking on the only side to beat them. Serves us up with a tasty clash this Saturday.
The Falcons have taken all before them so far this year, and this is put down to the collective efforts of the whole side. Up forward the Falcons have plenty of options to kick goals. Harrison Greaves leads the way with 34 goals and has been named in the best players 10 times this year. Jayden Duman has kicked 24 since crossing from East Burwood, Joel McGown has 23 and another ex-ram Damatopolous has kicked 20.
This versatility has made them difficult to cover down in front of goal, but the ability of the Falcon’s midfield to win first use of the footy enables the potent forwards. Ruckman Beech (9 Times in best), Mitchell Hanegraaf (8TIB) and the ever present Luke Williams (7 TIB) run the engine room. Williams is dangerous all over the ground with his power, skill and importantly experience.
Doncaster East are of course the one side to defeat Knox all year. The blueprint for that victory was intensity. The Lions harassed Knox from siren to siren. That day skipper Nick Batsanis kicked five foals from the middle. The goal scoring midfielder has 20 goals for the year, whilst key forward Tom Gordon has kicked 47 goals, including seven goals last week in the Lions last gasp victory.
To match the power of Knox midfield, the Lions bring pace and class. The pace comes from the aforementioned Bastanis, James Locke and Jake Whitling. The latter had a day out in the Lions pumping of Knox where he nailed four majors off a wing.
The class comes in the form of Brock McLean. McLean’s CV is well known to everyone, but heres a snippet of his year for the Lions. McLean has been in the best 10 times and kicked 14 goals. Watch out for his calm head this September.
Defensively the Lions hold an ace in Jack Martin. The athletic defender is having another massive year. His ability to play one out on a forward , as well as play a more aggressive rebounding role yet again plays to the strength of the Lions.
Last Time: Doncaster East 19.7.121 def Knox 7.20.62
Skipper Batsanis kicked 5, Whitling 4 as the Lions mauled the Falcons at home.
Elimination Final
Lilydale (3rd, 10-8, WLW) v Mooroolbark (4th, 10-8, WLW)
Local rivals squaring off in an elimination final. Two sides separated by percentage. Two times these teams have played each other this year. Both times the away side has won convincingly. So who knows at a neutral venue.
Lilydale confirmed its spot in finals last week with a classy win over Croydon. The Dales had six multiple goal kickers showing both its strength and possibly a weakness. Four Lilydale players have kicked 20 goals (more or less) this year. But none have gone over 30. Andrew Preston (26), Lachlan Wilson (25), Ryan Harvey (20) and Brad Lowe (19) have all gad days out at some point this year, but none have taken the year by the scruff of the neck.
Opponents Mooroolbark are vastly different. Kire Talevski has kicked 64 goals this season including 12 in last weeks demolition of Mitcham. The experienced stay at home forward is red hot heading into this years finals having kicked 18 goals in the last two weeks.
The Midfield battle could be decided by Beau Mitchner. The Lilydale ruckman provides an around the ground marking option for his side along with giving his midfield first use of the ball. In Lilydale’s round two victory over Mooroolbark Mitchner was best on ground.
If Lilydale do win the clearance, it’s usually Ryan Harvey loping away with the ball in hand. The blonde running on baller has found himself in his sides best players 10 times this season. Harvey breaks the lines with both his leg speed and long kicking.
Lilydale’s pacey youth will go head to head with the experience of Mooroolbark in the middle. The McManus boys are the epitome of that experience and have both been in relatively good form this past month. Ben Slattery has also been strong through the middle finding himself in the Mustangs best the past three weekends.
Mooroolbark have been interesting to track in recent weeks as a whole. Losses to the relegated Waverley Blues and an in form Wantirna South preceded a shootout win against Doncaster East. The Mustangs then loss an arm wrestle against Upper Gully before pummelling Mitcham. With a defensive record that is the worst in the Top Four, Mooroolbark will want to make it a shootout this Sunday at Tomore, whilst Lilydale will be studying the Upper Gully game closely.
Last Time: Lilydale 8.8.56 def by Mooroolbark 14.5.89
Talevski kicked 4, McManus the Mustangs’ best.
