Undefeated Gawler Central faces off with fierce rival South Gawler in BLGFA Grand Final
Two fierce rivals will do battle for the Barossa, Light & Gawler A-grade crown. Who will come out on top?
Barossa, Clare & Gawler
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Two clubs. One town. One premiership.
Undefeated Gawler Central will clash with fierce rival South Gawler for the A-grade premiership, with the Tigers seeking their first crown since 2014, and the Lions aiming for their first since 1993.
Central has been dominant throughout the 2020 season, and defeated South by 45 points in their clash this season only three weeks ago.
The Tigers burst away to a 40-point quarter-time lead and maintained that lead for the whole day in that last clash, and club president Tom Lane is expecting a closer game.
“I’m always anxious as to how things are, history doesn’t always reflect the picture,” he said.
“I think it’ll be a tighter match than last time for sure.
“I’m confident, and with all things being equal, we should meet the challenge.”
Mr Lane believed the game will be one, as it usually is, in the midfield.
“We need to win the ball first, they have a really classy midfield,” he said.
“Both teams are evenly matched to be honest … it showed after quarter time the last time we played.”
“We need to get on top early.”
The two clubs faced off in a grand final last in 2014, with the Tigers claiming the crown.
South president Luke Officer said it would be great to claim the flag over their fiercest rivals.
“Retribution is a lovely word, but they’re a strong side, they’re a great side, they’re on top and undefeated for a reason, but we’re proud of everything we’ve achieved this year and we’ll give it a red hot crack,” he said.
“A good start is important … on Saturday against Angaston was probably the first time we put together a consistent four-quarter effort.
“We’ve really hit our straps in terms of form, and I think last time they got a six or seven goal jump on us in the first quarter, you just can’t allow for that.”
Both clubs are appreciative about getting a season underway due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mr Officer said he thought it may never have happened.
“It’d be unscripted I think, as I said earlier, if you said at the start of the year this is what would’ve happened with COVID, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said.
“It’s one thing to make a grand final, it’s one thing to play your arch rival in a grand final and it’s one thing to come up against your arch rival who is undefeated and flogged you.
“It’ll be a big day for the club, win, lose or draw.”