Grand clash to stir fans

By Bob Foletta
Second Division
Grand final: Warburton-Millgrove v Thornton-Eildon
Saturday at Healesville
THE two best-performed sides of the 2006 season meet in a much-anticipated Second Division grand final for the Commodore Press Cup on Saturday at Healesville.
Warburton ventured straight into this match with a solid second semi-final win over Thornton to keep its unbeaten run intact.
Vincent Muccitelli was a key factor in the win, with 13 goals, but the older, wiser heads of De Graaf, Bickerton and Muir added the polish to the Burras’ win.
Their running brigade of Iacono, Lawrence and Hansen will have to be at their best as the run of the Thornton side could trouble the older legs of the Burras.
Thornton had to face Yarra Junction on Saturday in a tough encounter at Gembrook in the preliminary final. It played a tough and running style of game with key targets up forward in Lucas Smith and John “Scooter” Creighton proving they have enough firepower to trouble the Burras’ backline.
Coller and Boote provided the grunt in the middle of the ground while Creed, Williamson and Sharp all played important roles in the success of the Thornton side.
Warburton is going to rely on the experience that De Graaf, Muccitelli and the Walker boys bring to the table, as their finals experience may prove invaluable down the road.
Scott Hamill and Grant Newing are going to have huge roles in the key defensive positions as the Thornton forwards in Hall, Smith and Creighton are all dangerous if given some space to work in.
Lucas Smith may be the most important player on the ground: if he is allowed to run at the ball freely, he will have a big say in the result.
The match holds all sorts of possibilities. Can Warburton go through the season undefeated? Will there be a fairytale finish for Thornton in its first season back in the YVMDFL? Can Ryan Hall get that one goal to register 100 for the season? By 5pm all will be answered as one team becomes the 2006 Commodore Press Cup premiership team.
First Division
First semi-final: Healesville v Woori Yallock
Sunday at Gembrook
WOORI Yallock looked down and out at three-quarter time against Silvan on Sunday. Trailing by 16 points and with a momentum shift towards the Cats, it looked like the Tigers’ season was over.
Woori had played well in the first half, but during the third quarter the game appeared to have slipped away from them.
Then Damian Monkhorst stepped in at full forward, keeping the forward line open as Ben Aulich roamed around providing another big target for the on-ballers to kick to, and the game changed.
Silvan was unable to match up on Monkhorst and he kicked three telling goals to provide the Tigers with another week of finals.
Healesville went into the game against Upwey with momentum on its side and, with Upwey seeming to be taking a couple of chances with players, it looked as if it could topple the early-season flag favourite.
But it wasn’t to be, so Healesville fronts up on Sunday, at Gembrook, against a confident Tiger outfit.
Healesville’s Jye Conrau once again provided a target up forward with three goals and Mark Reilly with two, but there just weren’t enough avenues to goal. Monk, Adams, Morandi and the experienced Henning were the Bloods’ best in a disappointing result.
But they live again this week, with a clean slate and the opportunity of a berth in a preliminary final. Woori Yallock’s runners in Sneddon, Hottes, McGrath and King provided ample opportunity for the forwards to kick a winning score.
The battle of the runners looms as a definite highlight of this match-up, as both sides have their fair share of talented ball winners.
The Gembrook ground will hold no fears for either side, as both will like the space to run into, and it could come down to which side adjusts to the conditions first, especially if it’s a bit breezy.
An old-fashioned type of match-up of two sides that love to beat each other this will bring supporters of both clubs out of the woodwork for a classic confrontation.
Second semi final: Monbulk vs Upwey-Tecoma
Sunday at Kilsyth
WHAT more could a football lover want than the two best-performed teams of the season playing each other for a spot in a grand final.
Monbulk, enjoying the week off, would have been quite happy to see Upwey involved in a very tough game against Healesville.
What would have concerned them were the inclusions into the Upwey side, with two particular names standing out from the rest. The inclusions of Hedge and Hayes will send a shiver down the spine of any coach, but with a game under their belts and pulling up well to front up again they will give the coaching staff of Monbulk something to think about.
Both contributed to the win with goals, but the back line of Monbulk can prove to be very tough competition. David Burke and Michael Hughson are as solid in the defensive key spots as any side going around in any competition and hold the key to Monbulk’s success.
The Upwey forwards are going to need to be at their best to try to stretch those two, as they are rarely beaten. Ryan and David Van Hoorn are two players who will also need to be at their best as they to come up against some formidable opponents in Koole, Gee and Comfort.
The midfield battle will be where the game is won or lost, as the side that can deliver enough of the ball to its forwards will benefit on the scoreboard.
Coviello, Allison and Mitchell have been the backbone of the Upwey defence, with Coviello also being used up forward, but he may be asked to keep the twin towers of Monbulk quiet. Tolliday and Cleven can and have won games off their own boots, so they will need to be kept in check.
The one player who could turn this game on its head, though, is Upwey’s Paul Marshall. He has an ability to kick goals from anywhere or take the mark of the year. If he is left free to roam it could prove disastrous for Monbulk.
Like the other final, this is a clash between two great rivals with a big reward, a grand final berth, at stake. And this game should go down to the wire.