The final day in Great Flinders football and netball is upon us as the league descends on Karkoo hoping to bring home the ultimate glory.
Please take note of the different start times for the games due to presentations.
We preview all the matches below:
9am – Senior Colts – Tumby Bay vs United Yeelanna
The Senior Colts will kick off the Tumby Bay and United Yeelanna theme throughout the day.
The Blues will go into this game as heavy favourites, heading into the Grand Final undefeated, but as shown in the past, that can be a curse.
Tumby Bay will be led by 2023 GFFL Senior Colts Best & Fairest Henry Challinger and leading goalkicker Ollie Juett who finished the minor round with 79 majors. Combining with Juett up forward will likely be the ever-dangerous Tyree Burgoyne and youngster Rylan Jefferson who popped up and kicked six goals the last time the two sides met.
Expect Tahj Bryant to line up against Juett, after keeping him to a solitary goal in the second semi-final. For the Eagles to match it with the Blues, they will need big games from their senior players such as Bailey Doolan, Lachlan Hancock, Beau Maddern and Archer Haylock.
It will be well and truly worth getting to the Kooplex nice and early to watch some of the future stars of the competition try to bring home the first of a few flags for their club for the day.
BOG Tip – Henry Challinger – Tumby Bay
10:45am – Mini Colts – Tumby Bay vs Elliston Districts
Tumby Bay have only lost one game all year and it was to their Grand Final opponents, Elliston Districts.
The Roosters have crawled over the line in both games, including the preliminary final last weekend with no goals scored for the entire game, leading many Rooster parents to have a heart checkup during the week.
The Blues will be led by association Best & Fairest, Dallas Robinson who polled 3 votes in every single game he played in the minor round. Brodie Burford has also had a super consistent year – managing 15 best player appearances in as many games.
The Roosters will look towards their midfield in Zayden Gill, Kobin McEvoy, Jai Pickett and Owen Richards to get on top early and provide Jaxon Shepperd a chance to kick a winning score.
Tumby Bay will go into this game as favourites but the Roosters are charging into the Grand Final choc-full of momentum. This could go either way and umpires/timekeepers best be prepared for this game to go into extra time.
BOG Tip – Dallas Robinson
12:00pm – B Grade – Tumby Bay vs United Yeelanna
Tumby Bay have been the dominant side all season, but they take on the Eagles who won by 7 points in their last minor round game played at Karkoo.
In the second semi-final it was the Blues who burst out of the blocks, nearly putting the game to bed at quarter time thanks to a 4 goal first quarter to association leading goalkicker Fillipo Fiore.
The Eagles played a much better brand of football last weekend, with Dalton Proctor outstanding in the midfield ably supported by Zac Glover in the ruck and Alex Glover around the ground.
The Blues will be without their captain Brayden ‘Ox’ Calderwood who has got the call up to A grade where his bigger body and contested aggression will be invaluable on a small ground.
Last time these two matched up, Tumby Bay sent Mitch Anesbury to Reece Francis in a run-with role to great effectiveness and will likely look to try the same here.
Both teams have relied on one or two goalkickers to kick a winning score with Fiore and Jacob Cave combining for 100 goals for the Blues in the minor round and Luke Howie finishing with 50 for the Eagles. If goal celebrations won premierships, the one to watch if he kicks a goal is Brad Gunn.
The midfield battle will be the key this match with Francis, Proctor and Todd likely up against Anesbury, Fleming and Edmonds.
Both sides have plenty of X Factor lead by Kade Dufek for the Eagles and Connor Newton for Tumby Bay.
BOG Tip – Kade Dufek
2:30pm – A Grade – United Yeelanna vs Tumby Bay
United Yeelanna
Ins - Jack Crettenden Outs - Zac Glover
Tumby Bay
Unchanged
The stage is set for the two best sides all season lining up against each other in the final game of the 2023 season.
The Eagles will be chasing an incredible 9th A Grade premiership in 11 years whilst the Blues will be looking for their first since 2009.
Tumby Bay just scraped over the line against a fast-finishing Lock side last weekend and looked to be back playing their hard-nosed competitive football compared to the week prior.
Just weeks ago, the experienced Eagles outfit gave the young Blues side a lesson in finals football, bursting out of the blocks to take a 55-point lead into the main break.
There are match-ups all over the ground that are worth the price of entry alone. Who gets the key role on Eagles superstar forward Matt Crettenden will be the question for Tumby Bay. Do they go with Joe Walker or allow him to play his own role across half-back?
Dane Habner did a great job on Latrellae Sumner in the second semi-final, but as shown all year, Sumner the Great Flinders Association Best U/21 only needs a 5 minute period to turn the game into the Blues favour.
Ky Miller was simply outstanding for Tumby Bay last weekend, highlighted by several centre clearances running at full speed and delivering into the Blues forward 50.
Jaxon Norton is a known finals specialist, whether it be in the ruck or at centre half-back and could be matched up on the twin towers in Tom and Jack McDonald.
The midfield battle is going to be absolutely captivating with Michael Crettenden, Maxfield and Xavier Watson likely to be up against Lawrie, McLeod and Sumner. Grant McLeod was easily the best man on the ground in the preliminary final last weekend, kicking 4 goals from the midfield including 2 long bombs from stoppages.
Casey Carr could prove to be the difference in this game. His experience and ball winning ability whether in the midfield or across half-forward was outstanding in the second semi-final and must be shut down by one of the Blues key defenders.
Expect this game to be much closer than 2 weeks ago, however it’s hard to go past the Eagles at home chasing their 9th premiership in 11 years.
BOG Tip – Casey Carr
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