O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale and Marion captains predicting a close Adelaide Footy League “Battle of the Battlers” grand final
A PREMIERSHIP has seemed an impossible dream for the O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale Lions and Marion Rams. But by 5pm on Saturday, one of the two perennial strugglers will win a fairytale flag after the “Battle of the Battlers”.
PREMIERSHIP has seemed an impossible dream for the O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale Lions and Marion Rams in recent years as they have toiled through countless drubbings.
But by 5pm on Saturday, one of the two perennially struggling clubs will win a fairytale flag after clashing in the Adelaide Footy League’s “Battle of the Battlers” division seven grand final at St Marys Park.
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale co-captain Dougie Clinch expects the game to be very emotional given what both clubs have endured to get there.
Clinch, 33, has only ever lined up for O’Sullivan Beach or the merged outfit and is without a flag since juniors.
“It’s a big day for us boys but a huge day for the supporters to feel special about where the footy clubs are at in this point in time,” Clinch, a midfielder, says.
“It has brought a lot of joy and happiness to the supporters and people who have suffered for a long time with not much success.
“It’d be pretty special (to win the flag). I’ll probably have a cry.”
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale has not won a premiership since forming from a merger at the end of 2001 – the year Lonsdale claimed the Southern Football League’s division two crown.
Marion’s most recent flag was in the SFL’s top tier in 2000.
After those successes, the clubs gradually became easybeats until leaving the SFL 12 months ago because they considered the competition to be lopsided.
In their last five SFL seasons, O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale won just 12 of 88 matches and had an average losing margin of 122 points, while the Rams notched nine victories with an average losing margin of 111 in that time, going winless in 2016 and 2017.
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s other co-captain, Gary Dean, says the premiership decider is “uncharted territory” for him and many of his teammates.
“This year has been brilliant and sometimes you’ve got to pinch yourself that it’s happened,” says Dean, who has played for the Lions for all bar two seasons since he was 15.
“It’s indescribable in some ways for me because I don’t know what it’s going to be like but it’s exciting.
“We can’t wait to get out there and show what we can do.”
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale enters the match as favourite after losing just once so far this season and beating Marion in their three meetings this year – by 16, 50 and 12 points.
Both sides have had key forwards boot 100 goals in 2018 – Trevor Rigney (103) for the Lions and Ryan Wade (108) for the Rams.
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale has the edge in experience and arguably has more goalkicking options but Marion captain Stephen Saunders says his team’s speed and superior midfield can be the difference.
“It’s definitely going to be a close one,” Saunders, 25, says.
“They’re an older group so I think our young legs can run them off their feet.”
Saunders, who won division seven’s best and fairest last month, says making a grand final has been the Rams’ goal all season after recruiting strongly over summer.
Whatever the result, both clubs will be promoted to division six next season.
“The buzz around the place is massive,” Saunders says.
“It’d mean everything to win it because there’s been so much put into the season from everyone.
“We think we’ve learnt from last time we’ve played them but we’ll have to see what happens.”
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE GRAND FINALS (Saturday, September 8)
■ Division three: Seaton Ramblers v Scotch Old Collegians at Thebarton Oval at 2.30pm
■ Division four: Gepps Cross v Glenunga at Alberton Oval at 2.30pm
■ Division five: CBC Old Collegians v Woodville South at Payneham Oval at 2.30pm
■ Division seven: O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale v Marion at St Marys Park at 2.15pm
COUNTRY GRAND FINALS (Saturday, September 8)
■ Eastern Eyre: Eastern Ranges v Kimba Districts at Port Neill at 2.30pm
■ Mallee: Border Downs Tintinara v Karoonda at Coonalpyn at 2.15pm
■ Mid West: West Coast Hawks v Elliston at Wirrulla Oval at 2.30pm
■ Riverland: Waikerie v Renmark at Renmark at 2.40pm
■ Western Border: Millicent v East Gambier at McDonald Park at 2.50pm
Red-hot Rams make statement: 10 things we learned in local SA footy
A huge performance by Michael McMahon and Glenunga headlined the weekend of local SA footy finals action as the Rams booked a spot in the div one big dance. See the 10 things we learned across country and suburban competitions.
Live Stream: 2024 City-Bay Fun Run
The annual Adelaide City-Bay Fun Run will host a mixture of the nation’s top distance runners and locals next weekend. Watch every finisher charge across the line LIVE on Sunday.