Ultimate NFL Division 3 grand final preview: Laurimar v South Morang
Laurimar and South Morang will meet for the fifth time this season in the NFL Division 3 grand final to decide who earns promotion.
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Like two heavyweight boxers, this rivalry needs a deciding round.
Laurimar and South Morang have been slugging it out all season and will meet in the ultimate decider – the NFL Division 3 grand final on Saturday.
The Power and Lions are locked 2-2 after four bouts and the winner will claim bragging rights and earn a hard-fought promotion.
The pair are also 1-1 in finals with South Morang ending Laurimar’s season in 2019 in the preliminary final, while the Power got one back in the qualifying final a fortnight ago.
And like most boxing rivals, these two don’t like each other.
The Round 17 match was marred by an all-in brawl, while three South Morang players have been suspended in the past two meetings.
Discipline and composure will be critical.
History is there for the taking the Laurimar.
The Power had never won a final before beating South Morang a fortnight ago and now find themselves on the precipice if a premiership.
The Lions have had their fair share of heartbreak.
Preliminary finals in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and grand final defeats in 2017 and 2019 – not to mention a cancelled 2021 when they looked unbeatable.
Which ever teams holds the cup up will have achieved something special.
KEY MATCH-UPS
MITCH THOMPSON v TYE HALL
These two have history after a dust up in Round 17 and given Hall was suspended for the qualifying final as a consequence, this is the sequel. Both are hard, uncompromising players and will surely be in each others faces at some stage on Saturday. Whomever can keep their cool and do the walking as well as the talking will have a medal around their neck at the end of the day.
JOEL LAWSON v MITCH KALPAKIS
Kalpakis is such an important player at centre half-back for South Morang. If he is allowed free rein to intercept mark and set up play then the Lions are one step closer to the premiership. Lawson is only 18 but has kicked 31 goals this season and shown he can be a real danger. However, would Laurimar coach Jimmy Atkins consider sacrificing a forward if it meant keeping Kalpakis quiet? Lawson could be that player.
JACOB LAWSON v MATT TRIM
Both Lawson and Trim have the ability to win the ball at the coalface and do damage on the outside. It’s hard to predict the midfield match-ups but you can guarantee these two will be fighting over the same ball at some stage on Saturday. Both made the Division 3 Team of the Year last season and are likely to do so again this year.
JACSON CECIL v MATT ROBINSON
Cecil might have won the Division 3 goalkicking award but his form against top-four teams has been ordinary. The Power forward has kicked just 17 of his 85 goals against finalists, with six of those coming in one game against Old Eltham. He has eight goals against South Morang and will need to break the shackles if the Power are going to win the cup. Lions skipper Matt Robinson will likely get first crack and is a hard man to beat.
ETHAN BATEMAN v LIAM JOLLY
The ruck battle will be a fascinating watch. It’s well documented South Morang is missing its two top big men but Jolly more than filled the void in the preliminary final win over Old Eltham Collegians. In fact, he was best-on-ground. The youngster is capable of jumping and can also get dangerous when running forward. Bateman is in his first year of senior football and forms a dangerous one-two punch with Josh Leather. However, expected Bateman to be the more prominent with his athleticism and follow up work a feature.
NATHAN ANDREWS v BEN PETERSEN
Petersen is an under-rated threat in the South Morang forward line and has form against Laurimar with four goals in Round 4 and three goals in Round 14 but was kept goalless in the Round 17 clash. Andrews looms as a likely opponent given his athletic ability and also has the capacity to run off and create offence from half-back. Both need to be watched closely.
KAIN ARTHUR v KAIN HALL
The prime-movers for both teams, Arthur and Hall can run from end to end all day and provide a critical link from defence to attack. Arthur has made more of an impact on the scoreboard this season, kicking 23 goals, while Hall is more a true centreman – leading his team around the ground. Both are grand final medal fancies given their influence.
X-FACTOR
JAKE RICHARDS
Laurimar’s Mr Fix-It. If Jimmy Atkins sees a leak he usually throws Richards at it. Need a spark in midfield, need some rebound off half-back, need a marking target? Richards provides so much to the Power line-up that he’ll often play multiple roles every game. Wherever he is deployed on grand final day he’s sure to make an impact.
BAILEY BROWN
The maestro in midfield for South Morang, Brown will be critical to his club’s premiership hopes. Has been in the Lions’ best a staggering 14 times in 20 games, underlining his importance to the team. However, if he can improve one thing it could be the difference – hit the scoreboard. Brown has kicked 12 goals this season but six of those came against Reservoir. If he can kick a couple of goals, South Morang will be very well placed.
EXPECTED LINE-UPS
While there rarely are in grand final week, don’t expect too many changes. Laurimar could recall winger Matt Gersh if he’s passed fit after missing the past month through injury. Meanwhile, after missing the qualifying final, South Morang regained Tye Hall, James Hewson and Reece Jones for the preliminary final and looked far more dangerous. The trio hold down key roles in midfield, attack and defence. Rohan Buzzini has played 18 of 20 games this season and would be stiff to miss after not facing Old Eltham.
WHERE IT WILL BE WON
In the head. Might sound a cliche but whichever team keeps their cool and remains composed on Saturday will win the premiership. This season’s matches have been fiery affairs and both Jimmy Atkins and Gary Hall will be imploring their players to play the game and not get distracted. South Morang was able to harness the fire in its Round 17 win but let it get the better of them in the qualifying final and the results showed.
Laurimar will have the advantage in the ruck with Ethan Bateman and Josh Leather up against Liam Jolly and Ben Petersen. However, South Morang has arguably the better midfield, led by Bailey Brown, Matt Trim and Tye and Kain Hall, and should be able to make up for any deficiency.
VERDICT
Harder to pick than a broken nose but you’ve got to expect that when it comes to the grand final. The pair have split their season series 2-2 and this is the ultimate decider. Laurimar got the critical win in the qualifying final to earn the week off and comes into the game fresh. South Morang had a comfortable win over Old Eltham Collegians in the preliminary final and will be better for the run. The last five games have been decided by an average of 20 points so don’t expect a last-minute thriller here. The Lions have the experience but lack the discipline … LAURIMAR BY 18 POINTS
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