NFL Division 1 coaches have their say on grand final result

FIVE of Garry Ramsay’s fellow Northern Football League Division 1 coaches believe Macleod will send him out a winner in Saturday’s grand final.

Coach Garry Ramsay and Macleod captain Kane Shaw after the club’s 2015 grand final victory. Picture: Hamish Blair

FIVE of Garry Ramsay’s fellow Northern Football League Division 1 coaches believe Macleod will send him out a winner in Saturday’s grand final.

Ramsay will coach the Roos for the last time against West Preston-Lakeside in the decider, having led Macleod to four consecutive grand finals.

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The Roos have been the standout side in the NFL top flight throughout 2018, finishing four games clear at the top of the ladder.

Ricky Dyson (Bundoora), Frank Raso (Macleod), Jimmy House (North Heidelberg), Matt McLennan (Northcote Park) and Jim Atkins (Whittlesea) backed Macleod to emerge victorious this weekend.

Atkins said Macleod had been “the best side by far all year”.

“Their defensive structure will be the difference,” he said.

McLennan said the grand finalists both had “quality across all the lines”.

Coach Garry Ramsay embraces Jack Langford after Macleod’s most recent premiership in 2015. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Macleod have been together for longer as a group, they work together efficiently and in my opinion play the better team footy,” he said.

“I think they will not repeat the sins of the past (and) also believe their playing group would love to send Garry off with a win.

“He’s done an amazing job at Macleod.”

West Preston-Lakeside coach Rob Maiorana calling the shots.

House said the Roos would be “too quick and too strong across half forward”, while Raso said injury concerns surrounding Ahmed Saad and Ozgur Uysal tipped the scales in Macleod’s favour.

“I think Macleod’s inside game is the best in the comp,” Raso said.

“West Preston must make it low scoring to win. If it becomes a shoot out Macleod wins with their talent.”

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Greensborough co-coach Mick Harford believes the grand final could swing on Saad and Uysal’s fitness.

“I don’t like the week off, win, week off practice of finishing on top,” Harford said.

“But Macleod have been the best team all year. If Saad, (Jaylon) Thorpe and Uysal (play), I’m saying West Preston by 15.

“If the injured players don’t play, I’ll go with Macleod by 12.”

Former Hurstbridge coach Trevor Little said West Preston-Lakeside’s “run and carry” would be the difference in a close game.

“Very clean by foot also. However, they will have to take their chances against a great team in Macleod, who will probably have more of the footy,” Little said.

Outgoing Montmorency coach Ben Haynes also backed the Roosters, tipping a “cracking contest”.

“(They are a) well coached team with good structure behind the ball,” Haynes said.

Ahmed Saad gets a kick away before he was injured during Sunday’s preliminary final.

COACHES’ VERDICTS

Mick Harford (Greensborough) — West Preston by 15 points should Saad, Uysal and Thorpe play. Otherwise Macleod by 12.

Trevor Little (ex-Hurstbridge) — West Preston by seven points

Jim Atkins (Whittlesea) — Macleod by 28 points

Ben Haynes (Montmorency) — West Preston

Matt McLennan (Northcote Park) — Macleod

Jimmy House (North Heidelberg) — Macleod by four goals

Frank Raso (Heidelberg) — Macleod

Ricky Dyson (Bundoora) — Macleod by one point

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