Bendigo, Wimmera, Central Murray: Premiership glory awaits in bumper weekend of grand final action
The 2024 country footy season culminates this weekend with nine major league grand finals to be decided. See our tips and players to watch.
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The 2024 country footy season culminates this weekend with nine major league premierships on the line.
The Ballarat, Bendigo, Central Murray, Hampden, Murray, Gippsland and Wimmera flags will be decided on Saturday before the Goulburn Valley and Ovens & Murray premiers will be crowned the following day.
BALLARAT
City Oval, Ballarat, Saturday
MELTON v EAST POINT
HOW WE GOT HERE
After the heartbreak of being bundled out of finals in straight sets last year, Melton has been hellbent on atonement.
Finished on top again, but this time it has won early finals to be the first to qualify for the grand final.
But looming large again is East Point, which ended Melton’s season last by one point, and survived an overtime thriller against reigning premier Darley to advance to the grand final.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Qualifying final: Melton 9.9 (63) def East Point 7.9 (51)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Melton
Braeden Kight: Melton captain who has led from the front this season as the league’s leading goalkicker with 78 goals.
Conrad Farrugia: One of the best young forwards in the competition who was the difference in the qualifying final win against East Point when he booted three goals.
East Point
Jackson Merrett: The former Essendon player stepped down as coach at end of last season, but helped keep East Point’s season alive in a frenetic finish to the preliminary final.
Mickitja Rotumah-Onus: Spent last season playing for Southern Mallee Giants, but his return and East Point reaching the grand final is no coincidence.
WHO WINS
East Point 8 points
BENDIGO
Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo, Saturday
GISBORNE v SANDHURST
HOW WE GOT HERE
After winning the 2022 flag, Gisborne dipped to seventh 12 months later before rebounding strongly this season to be the first team into the grand final.
Rob Waters, who coached Gisborne to the flag two years ago, has returned and overseen the resurgence that has the Bulldogs peaking perfectly at finals time.
Sandhurst recovered from its second semi-final defeat to come from behind at the last change to win the preliminary final and earn another crack at Gisborne, but needs to lift to avoid successive grand final defeats.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Second semi-final: Gisborne 13.11 (89) def Sandhurst 9.12 (66)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Gisborne
Brad Bernacki: After two seasons alternating between Gisborne and Essendon VFL, the proven performer on the big stage, has been a star all season for the Bulldogs.
Flynn Lakey: Last year’s Michelsen Medal runner-up has been “Mr Consistent” in the Gisborne midfield, named in the best 16 of 18 times he’s played including the two finals wins.
Sandhurst
Lachlan Tardrew: Sandhurst’s star player, who finished in a three-way tie for the Michelsen Medal with Gisborne grand final opponents, Bernacki and Braidon Blake.
Fergus Greene: Returned to his original club after stints with Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn and topped the league goalkicking with 82 goals, but has had two quiet finals.
WHO WINS
Gisborne 25 points
CENTRAL MURRAY
Swan Hill Recreation Reserve, Saturday
KERANG v NYAH NYAH WEST UNITED
HOW WE GOT HERE
In one of the tightest seasons in decades, Kerang has still emerged as the team to beat.
It turned around a 16-point deficit at halftime of the second semi-final and beat Mallee Eagles by 19 points to be perfectly placed to farewell coach Troy Coates with an incredible 10th flag at Kerang including six as a coach.
Nyah Nyah West United started the season strongly before hitting a flat spot in the run home, but has recovered to have a shot at winning first flag since 2001.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round eight: Kerang 9.12 (66) def Nyah Nyah West United 8.7 (55)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kerang
Josh Nitschke: The Kerang captain and star midfielder who has been in scintillating touch in the back half of the season.
Brett Kennedy: North Queensland recruit who has hit form at the business end of the season with two bags of five goals against Mallee Eagles, including the second semi-final.
Nyah Nyah West United
Brandyn Grenfell: A century goalkicker for Marong the past two seasons before joining United where he has still kicked 85 goals, but also helped out in the ruck.
Jordan Iudica: Talented midfielder who joined United from Kyneton this season and made his presence felt.
WHO WINS
Kerang 22 points
MURRAY
Moama Recreation Reserve, Saturday
CONGUPNA v FINLEY
HOW WE GOT HERE
Congupna’s determination to go one better than last year’s grand final loss has been evident from the first round when it thrashed reigning premier Mulwala by 58 points.
Dropped only one match to Finley in round six, but The Road rolled the Cats in the second semi-final to book another grand final berth.
Congupna has not won a flag in the Murray league and Finley hasn’t saluted since 1988 with the Cats scraping over the line in the preliminary final against Moama by two points.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Second semi-final: Congupna 16.9 (105) def Finley 11.10 (76)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Congupna
Kyle Mueller: The Kyabram recruit goes into the grand final needing only one goal to reach 100 after booting 95 in the home and away rounds.
BJ Squire: Interrupted start to the season following groin surgery, but is an undisputed matchwinner. Kicked four goals in the first half of the second semi-final.
Finley
Mark Whiley: The star midfielder returned to his original club from Yarrawonga and missed a big chunk of the season with an ankle injury.
Jack Lang: Finley’s most productive forward this season with 58 goals, but went goalless in the preliminary final.
WHO WINS
Congupna 17 points
HAMPDEN
Reid Oval, Warrnambool, Saturday
NORTH WARRNAMBOOL v SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL
HOW WE GOT HERE
Crushed in the grand final by a rampaging South Warrnambool in the grand final last season, North Warrnambool put its premiership credentials on show by thrashing the reigning premier in round 10.
Followed up with an 11-point win against South in the second semi-final with late season, with Michael Barlow and Steven Motlop hugely beneficial.
South Warrnambool ended the giant-killing run of Terang-Mortlake in the preliminary final and can’t be dismissed.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Second semi-final: North Warrnambool 10.10 (70) def South Warrnambool 9.5 (59)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Warrnambool
Jett Bermingham: One of the league’s premier on-ballers and dual Maskell Medal winner has hit a hot patch of form at the right time with 32 touches and 12 clearances in the second semi.
Nathan Vardy: Experienced campaigner and first-year coach of North, who has developed a great ruck combination with Jordan Dillon.
South Warrnambool
Shannon Beks: Star forward with 68 goals this season, but will have a role to play in the ruck against Vardy and co.
Jay Rantall: A string of starring roles for South earned him a call up to the VFL with Werribee. Hasn’t played for South in finals due to a hamstring, but will be a huge boost if passed fit.
WHO WINS
South Warrnambool 8 points
GIPPSLAND
Morwell Recreation Reserve, Saturday
LEONGATHA v TRARALGON
HOW WE GOT HERE
Despite being beaten three times, including twice by a team that didn’t make finals, Leongatha enters the grand final hot favourites to win a third successive flag.
The ability to produce when it counts was never more evident than the second semi-final when it thrashed Moe by 58 points.
Leongatha has won its last 10 clashes with Traralgon, but the Maroons did beat the Parrots when they last met in a grand final in 2015.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 12: Leongatha 13.7 (85) def Traralgon 7.9 (51)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leongatha
Tom Marriott: Champion midfielder chasing a fifth premiership medallion. Can be relied upon to take his game up a gear at this time of the year.
Cam Olden: Restricted to only five appearances for Leongatha this season due to Richmond VFL commitments, but when he plays, he makes an impact.
Traralgon
Tye Hourigan: A standout key defender who has resumed from an ankle injury to be a star in three finals matches to date.
Tristen Waack: Made the move from arch rival Morwell early in the season and played majority of 2024 in the VFL, but has the tools to perform on the biggest stage.
WHO WINS
Leongatha 34 points
WIMMERA
Dimboola Recreation Reserve, Saturday
ARARAT v SOUTHERN MALLEE THUNDER
HOW WE GOT HERE
Ararat is lining up in a third successive grand final including victory last year to end a 22-year flag drought.
The Rats let slip top spot late in the season, but has hit top form with big finals wins against Stawell and Southern Mallee Thunder be first into grand final.
Thunder was overrun in the final quarter of the second semi-final by Ararat, but has earned another crack with a comfortable 50-point win against Stawell in the preliminary final.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Second semi-final: Ararat 17.10 (112) def Southern Mallee Thunder 12.6 (78)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ararat
Cody Lindsay: Spring-heeled ruckman who is an undisputed star of the Wimmera. Sorely missed when he went down with injury late in the year, but back in the line-up and ready to go.
Tom Williamson: Promoted to co-coach with Tom Wills this season, the former Carlton utility is a huge presence up forward. Booted six goals in the second semi-final.
Southern Mallee Thunder
Kieran Delahunty: Match-up with Corey Lindsay in the ruck will be crucial in determining in who lifts the premiership cup.
Billy Lloyd: Joined Southern Mallee in 2023 and played well, but has had an even better 2024 doing the heavy work in the Thunder midfield.
WHO WINS
Ararat 15 points
GOULBURN VALLEY
Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, Sunday
ECHUCA v SHEPPARTON
HOW WE GOT HERE
The premiers of the last two seasons recovered from a slip up against Rochester in round five to be the standout team again.
Echuca put its other big threat, Shepparton, to the sword by 70 points in round 10 and has comfortably taken care of both challengers in two finals wins to be one win away from a first ever GV premiership hat-trick.
The Bears’ against-the-odds win against Kyabram in the 2018 grand final proves upsets can happen, but so much needs to go right.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Qualifying final: Echuca 12.16 (88) def Shepparton 8.5 (53)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Echuca
Kane Morris: In a team loaded with stars, the co-captain leads the way in the ruck and also up forward where he hits the scoreboard regularly.
Jack McHale: Engine room dynamo who has been a star all season. In the team’s best players 16 of 18 times in the home and away rounds.
Shepparton
Ash Holland: Member of the 2018 premiership team that Kyabram’s dominant run and returned from two dominant seasons in the Picola District league.
Lewis McShane: Recruited from Cobram two years ago and alternates between the midfield and forward line. Booted three in the preliminary final against Rochester.
WHO WINS
Echuca 42 points
OVENS & MURRAY
Lavington Sports Ground, Sunday
YARRAWONGA v WANGARATTA ROVERS
HOW WE GOT HERE
Yarrawonga has been the team to beat since midway through the season with no obvious weaknesses.
Has overcome the loss of star defender Leigh Masters to cruise into grand final with a 71-point second semi-final demolition of Rovers, holding their opponents goalless for two and a half quarters.
Rovers set up a return bout with Yarrawonga following a dominant second half showing against North Albury in the preliminary final.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Second semi-final: Yarrawonga 17.9 (111) def Wangaratta Rovers 5.10 (40)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Yarrawonga
Perry Lewis-Smith: First-year player with Yarrawonga who has more than adequately covered the departure of Mark Whiley in the midfield.
Lach Howe: Quality ruckman who sets the star-studded Yarrawonga midfield brigade alight. Provides the Pigeons with a huge edge in the middle.
Wangaratta Rovers
Sam Murray: Shifted into the Rovers midfield this season and been a star. Sat out the second semi-final due to suspension, but back and led the Rovers into first grand final in 22 years.
Brodie Filo: Two team-lifting goals in the preliminary final third term were a snapshot of his undoubted talents despite moving into twilight of his career.
WHO WINS
Yarrawonga 40 points
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