BY NATHAN DOLE
IT’S not often a footy club claims a premiership trifecta.
This Saturday both Gisborne and Sandhurst will be vying to do so in the grand final to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Bulldogs and Dragons will fight for glory on the Queen Elizabeth Oval turf in View Street from 2.20pm.
Premiers of two seasons ago, Gisborne can cap a remarkable fightback after falling to the seventh rung in ’23.
It’s two-one in Gisborne’s favour against the Dragons this season.
Most recent showdown was the second semi-final where the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs marked a 23-point victory.
The Ash Connick, non-playing, and Bryce Curnow, playing, coached Dragons launched a final quarter fightback to overrun Strathfieldsaye Storm in the preliminary final.
Grand final week kicked off with a dramatic finish to last Sunday night’s calling of votes in the Michelsen Medal for league fairest and best.
Gisborne centreman Brad Bernacki and ruckman Braidon Blake, and Sandhurst on-baller/mid Lachlan Tardrew all tied on 20 votes.
Bernacki and Blake became the fifth and sixth Gisborne players to claim the league’s highest individual honour.
Tardrew is the 13th from the Dragons den to be added to the Michelsen Medal honour board.
All three now have sights set on capturing a premiership medal.
Blake has two – one at Sandhurst in 2016, Gisborne in ’22; Bernacki in ’22; and Tardrew with the Dragons of 2016.
There are many great match-ups for fans to watch in this grand final.
Gisborne’s on-ball brigade of Blake, Bernacki, Flynn Lakey and Jackson Cardillo played a key role in the team finishing the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
It will be a huge challenge for Sandhurst ruckman Connor Sexton, Lachlan Tardrew, Cooper Smith and Nick Stagg in limiting the impact their opponents have.
The Bulldogs have the marking power of Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy and Jack Scanlon in attack and the skillful Matt Merrett and Seb Bell-Bartels at ground level.
Leading goalkickers for the Bulldogs are McKenna, 60; Luxmoore, 58; Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone and Matt Merrett, 29; and Zac Denahy, 25.
Sandhurst’s defence is led by Bryce Curnow, Liam Ireland and Isaac Ruff, and also has the running power of Isaac Carracher from a pocket, and James Coghlan and Noah Walsh off half-back.
Midfield duels are always crucial on the big ground.
The brilliant Bernacki is flanked by Ryan Bourke and talented teen Dylan Johnstone who kicked five goals in the qualifying final victory.
Sandhurst’s midfield is Smith in the centre and Caleb Connick and Lachie Hood on the wings.
Bulldogs’ captain Jack Reaper leads a tight-knit defence.
A highlight will be the duel between Jed Denahy and Sandhurst’s gun forward and Ron Best medallist Fergus Greene.
The Bulldogs also have the versatility of Liam Spear, Zac Vescovi, Frank Schipano and Jake Normington to play on small or tall in defence.
Greene has brought experience from AFL level with Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn in this return to the den and kicked 82 goals.
Wearing number six which his father Chris wore in many matches for the Dragons, Fergus Greene will play a crucial role in Sandhurst’s bid to win its first senior premiership in eight years.
The Dragons also have the marking power of Lachlan Wright and Cobi Maxted, high workrate of Jake McLean and Matt Wilkinson, and creativity of flair Joel Wharton in his 200th senior match for the club.
Maxted has kicked 33 goals, while Wright has booted 26 in a season where he has played as a key defender and forward.
The classy Wharton has booted 23 goals.
There was one change to Gisborne’s team as Patrick Trotta is in for the injured Shane Clough.
Gisborne:
B: Jack Reaper, Zac Vescovi, Frank Schipano.
Hb: Jake Normington, Jed Denahy, Liam Spear.
C: Ryan Bourke, Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone.
Hf: Matt Merrett, Harry Luxmoore, Jack Scanlon.
F: Pat McKenna, Zac Denahy, Seb Bell-Bartels.
Foll: Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Jackson Cardillo.
Inter: Patrick Trotta, Macklan Lord, Jarrod Ainsworth, James Gray.
In: Patrick Trotta.
Out: Shane Clough (injured).
Coach: Rob Waters.
Sandhurst:
B: Isaac Carracher, Liam Ireland, Isaac Ruff.
Hb: James Coghlan, Bryce Curnow, Noah Walsh.
C: Caleb Connick, Cooper Smith, Lachie Hood.
Hf: Jake McLean, Lachlan Wright, Matt Wilkinson.
F: Joel Wharton, Cobi Maxted, Fergus Greene.
Foll: Connor Sexton, Lachlan Tardrew, Nick Stagg.
Inter: Harrison Free, Zach Pallpratt, Darcy Mills, Dayten Uerata.
Coaches: Ash Connick, non-playing; Bryce Curnow, playing.
Gisborne’s journey:
Rd 1: bye.
Rd 2: lt Sandhurst, 73-88 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 3: d Maryborough, 273-15 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 4: d South Bendigo, 180-31 at Harry Trott Oval.
Rd 5: d Golden Square, 104-56 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 6: d Eaglehawk, 97-63 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 7: d Strathfieldsaye, 110-82 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 8: d Castlemaine, 99-58 at Camp Reserve.
Rd 9: d Kangaroo Flat, 99-51 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 10: bye.
Rd 11: d Sandhurst, 73-67 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 12: d Maryborough, 169-51 at Princes Park.
Rd 13: d South Bendigo, 153-26 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 14: d Golden Square, 94-75 at Fur Life Oval.
Rd 15: d Eaglehawk, 126-74 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 16: lt Strathfieldsaye, 69-92 at Triple M Park.
Rd 17: d Castlemaine, 92-39 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 18: d Kangaroo Flat, 236-39 at Dower Park.
Sandhurst’s run:
Rd 1: d Kangaroo Flat, 171-29 at Dower Park.
Rd 2: d Gisborne, 88-73 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 3: bye.
Rd 4: d Maryborough, 347-14 at Princes Park.
Rd 5: d South Bendigo, 167-30 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 6: d Golden Square, 102-48 at Fur Life Oval.
Rd 7: d Eaglehawk, 112-40 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 8: d Strathfieldsaye, 116-91 at Triple M Park.
Rd 9: d Castlemaine, 100-49 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 10: d Kangaroo Flat, 152-38 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 11: lt Gisborne, 67-73 at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 12: bye.
Rd 13: d Maryborough, 201-8 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 14: d South Bendigo, 150-18 at Harry Trott Oval.
Rd 15: lt Golden Square, 68-89 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 16: d Eaglehawk, 114-48 at Canterbury Park.
Rd 17: d Strathfieldsaye, 62-32 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 18: d Castlemaine, 115-64 at Camp Reserve.
Schedule for Saturday’s footy grand finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
Under-18s at 9.15am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Reserves at 11.50am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.