Prince Alfred Old Collegians and Payneham Norwood Union face off in 2021 Adelaide Footy League division one grand final
For the second time in three seasons Prince Alfred Old Collegians and Payneham Norwood Union will face off in the division one grand final. Read the full preview here.
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Ten years ago the Payneham Norwood Union and Prince Alfred Old Collegians football clubs were both battling just to reach the Adelaide Footy League’s top flight.
This Saturday, the Falcons and the Old Reds will have the opportunity to stamp themselves as a competition powerhouse when they meet in the division one grand final for the second time in three seasons.
It has been a meteoric rise for both clubs in the past decade to become established as perennial contenders.
For PAOC, there is a sense of unfinished business having fallen to the Falcons by just four points in the 2019 decider.
Old Reds playing coach Craig Pitt said it was fitting that the two sides would meet in Saturday’s grand final at Richmond Oval.
“We both respect each other enormously and we’ve both been two of the better teams over the last three or four years,” Pitt said.
“It’s seen us have a lot of great games against each other and we always know you need to bring your best game to beat a Payneham team.”
Both clubs will likely field the strongest sides they have all year, setting the scene for another cracking contest.
Pitt said his side was full of confidence following a 74-point preliminary final win over St Peter’s Old Collegians.
“Coming in as a top team there always is a bit of added pressure to perform in that first final,” he said.
“I think the fact we got over that hurdle and performed well it gave guys confidence they can still perform at an elite level with finals pressure involved.
“We know it’s not going to be easy this week and we’ll need to take another step up.”
Payneham was the last team to beat PAOC when it stormed home from 30 points down in the fourth quarter to win in round eight.
However it was a 65-point win to the Old Reds when the sides last met in August.
Falcons coach Jace Bode believed the pressure was on the Old Reds and PNU’s hard-fought win over Goodwood in the preliminary final would hold it in better stead.
“They’ve lost two games all year, belted every team by 60 points the last 10 weeks – have they had enough heat and are we going to bring enough heat to make them play four quarters of footy?” Bode said.
“I’m really confident that our best footy is absolutely good enough to take it to them.
“We’ve had a track record over a long period, even before my time, of beating PAC in big games.
“So we go in pretty confident our talent and weapons can match theirs. It’s just about execution and playing four quarters.”
Bode said the club was proud of its overall success this year with the Falcons reserves – coached by 2019 premiership mentor and PNU legend Garry McIntosh – reaching their first grand final since 2014.
“We don’t shy away from the fact that we want to be a club that wins flags across all grades and we want to have sustained success,” Bode said.
“For them to be there alongside us shows how far our footy club has come in a short space of time in terms of the depth and executing a game plan, which I hang my hat on more than winning a flag.”
PAOC and PNU will renew hostilities from 2.30pm at Richmond Oval.
Earlier, the Falcons will play Goodwood in the reserves grand final while the are Saints also in the C1 decider against Port District.
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