Division 2 Finals Preview

Anna Pavlou – @Annalyst_Sports

Welcome to Division 2 Finals edition. The top four have proved themselves worthy, but there can be only one winner who holds the Premiership cup with pride.

The hard yards have led them to here, but the finish line is just ahead…

UHS-VU have come out on top as minor premiers, stringing together a very strong season, dropping only one game to Old Paradians in Round 4. The Raiders were undefeated until Round 14 and had a rough end to their season but have steadied in time for finals. Yarra Old Grammarians were locked mid-season in a tight final-four-battle with MHSOB and Whitefriars, but all went their own ways at the pointy end of 2018. Whitefriars settled themselves after a few injuries and came back to secure third spot for finals.

UHS-VU vs Old Paradians

The last time that UHS-VU were in Division 1 was in 1978 and they’ve worked hard to build a competitive team who are looking to make the double jump (from Division 3 to Division 1 in two years). The Vultures conceded an average of only 58 points during the home & away season, the lowest of any side, which proves their defence is hard to crack. The key to breaking through their miserly defence will be whether Old Paradians key forward Michael Boundy is fit to return. With him, the Raiders can take pressure off of Nolan and Walton who have battled up forward without Boundy for the latter part of the season. UHS-VU are averaging 116 points, the highest in the division, and the Raiders must find a way to stop their spread of goal kickers, spearheaded by the competition leading goal kicker Brandon Jackson, who has booted 16 majors in his last two games. Old Paradians, on the other hand should not be written off despite losing three of their last four games. The Raiders are conceding an average of 68 points with Warren Jeffery and D Souza leading their sides’ consistency.

UHS-VU have played 44 players in the seniors side this year, with only one player over the age 30. The question must be raised; can their young side handle the pressure of finals and keep the tank running over the next few weeks to take their side to another promotion and grand final victory?

Last time these two sides met, in Round 16, UHS-VU comprehensively beat the Raiders by 57 points, holding Parade to only five goals all day. Before that in Round 4, it was the Raiders who came out 22 point winners. This game could go either way depending on the weather and the ground size. UHS-VU are the team to beat in 2018. They have a spread of key players who they look to and do not rely on one key player. They’re a genuine chance to go all the way if they use their pace to get on top of the Raiders early.

Whitefriars vs Yarra Old Grammarians

This is the do-or-die game with the loser officially out of the finals for 2018. Both Whitefriars and Yarra Old Grammarians had an up and down season that consisted of lots of movement from top of the ladder to fifth and back again, until they settled in third and fourth respectively. The Friars have the second-best defence in the competition, conceding an average of 59 points per game. This shows that they not only shine in front of goal, with forwards Nitas, Neate and Height all in fine form, but are able to hold off any testing onslaughts from a high-scoring side like the Bushrangers. The Rangers however are not as multi-facetted as the Friars, as they rely on the consistency of Wildsmith and Harbeck. Their biggest challenge this week is that their defence is the weakest of the finalists conceding an average of 77 points, meaning that their defence may not be able to hold off Whitefriars on a dry and wide ground.

Last time they met in Round 10, Yarra took the chocolates by only seven points after the Friars led all day. If Yarra do find themselves behind at any time of the game, they can rely on their young, but capable legs that have proved they can outlast the fast bursting Friars boys. Before this in Round 5, Whitefriars comfortably won by 48 points after Michael Nitas led his side to an easy victory as they kicked 12 goals to two in the second half.

In the Reserves, I’m tipping Whitefriars to knock over UHS-VU to lock in a Grand Final berth in a tight battle while MHSOB could cause an upset defeating Old Paradians.