by Rob Popplestone
The 2022 MGFNL season promised plenty, has delivered more than expected and has laid the foundation for the most anticipated finals campaign in the league's recent history.With the final six sides only decided in the final minutes of the home and away season, there still remains no clarity as to just which side is best placed for an assault on the premiership.
Foster v Yinnar
Elimination final on Saturday
Venue: Meeniyan at 2.20pm
Foster has been quietly going about their business and planning a finals assault for eight weeks. On the other hand, Yinnar were only confident of their finals position some two minutes prior to the conclusion of their round 18 win over Morwell East just a few days ago.
The contrasting build up to the first week of finals counts for little, as both teams now launch their finals campaign from the same platform.
Foster are coming off some impressive football against fellow finals contender in Hill End just last week.
"Our first three quarters defensively were some of our best this year, and gives us a great amount of confidence going into finals," Foster coach Sam Davies said.
Davies said Yinnar look to be back to full strength and playing high-quality footy.
"Finals is a test, and we will have to play four quarters of disciplined footy to keep winning," he said.
The Magpies have some big bodies and experienced heads around the ball, and the conditions of last week probably favoured them as they achieved what looked for so long to have avoided them - a position in the league's top six.
Now they have their opportunity, Yinnar's coach Daniel Taylor and his players have no plans to be shooting stars.
"Elimination final this Saturday against Foster is obviously a massive game," Taylor said. "They got us early in the year in a close one, but both lists have changed a bit since then so it will be an interesting battle."
"I'm confident we'll be ready and up for the fight," he added.
You would be brave to confidently pick a clear winner in any of the finals, given the closeness of the competition. As impressive as the standard has been, somehow players and coaches will be searching, maybe demanding, their best get better. This is likely what it will take to be alive next week.
Boolarra v Hill End
Elimination final on Sunday
Venue: Thorpdale at 2.20pm
As good as both of these teams have been this season, it will almost be an injustice to lose one this weekend.
Boolarra, under coach Tony Giardina, have shown rapid improvement in just 12 months on the back of some savvy recruiting and fierce coaching. It has seen the Demons serving it up to the very best teams in the competition.
However, their last month has cast some doubt over whether the long and demanding season had started to catch up with them after some less than acceptable performances. That was before they bounced back with a confidence building win last week.
Giardina said it was good to be on the winners' list again.
"Big finals game for us this week, as we haven't played finals in a while," he said. "So boys are looking forward in playing Hill End who have experienced finals the last few years."
It is true the Rovers have been toward the top of the table over the past few seasons. A grand final loss just two years ago, was backed up by an impressive season that saw the Hillsmen claim the minor premiership in 2021 before they were stopped in their tracks by COVID.
The question is, has their small window to claim the ultimate success closed? Or is there still a small opportunity to go all the way?
"We are really happy to be in the finals and we look forward to bringing our best footy next week versus Boolarra," Hill End coach Mike Santo said.
Hill End will need their best footy too, and not just their best here and there. They need it for the full four quarters, as that seems to be the only knock on the Rovers at the moment.
With wet and windy conditions predicted in the weeks ahead, game styles might need subtle change as will team selections. That said, the weather presenters have been wrong before and hopefully might be off the mark on this occasion too. This will allow the best teams in the league to showcase their strengths and skills.
Next: Tarwin and Newborough will have the weekend off before facing off in the semi final at Fish Creek on Saturday, August 27.
The winners of the two elimination finals will battle it out in the other semi final at Newborough on Sunday, August 28.