We look at the key players and predict who wins the NFNL Division 3 grand final

One club will make history and end a long drought. Will it be Fitzroy Stars or Old Paradians? We look at the key players and predict who wins the NFNL Division 3 grand final.

Fitzroy Stars and Old Paradians clash in NFNL Division 3 grand final.

Two clubs, one chance to make Northern league history.

Fitzroy Stars and Old Paradians will both chase their maiden Northern league premiership on Saturday in the Division 3 grand final.

The Stars in their 17th season, the Raiders in their first.

There are also significant droughts to break.

Fitzroy’s dates back to 1992 when it played in the Melbourne North Football League and Paradians’ to 2015 when it won the VAFA Division 2 crown.

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Both too have come close and tasted bitter defeat, the Stars in 2013 and 2014 and the Raiders in 2018.

The clubs won one game each in the home-and-away season before Fitzroy Stars claimed an epic major semi-final victory by just six points to earn the week off.

Paradians eased past last year’s grand finalist Mernda in the preliminary final to earn a rematch.

Who will make history and who will continue to wait?

Allan Norris in action for Fitzroy Stars.

Sam Gilmore wins the tap for Old Paradians. Picture: Andy Brownbill

KEY MATCH-UPS

ALLAN NORRIS v SAM GILMORE

It’s going to be a tough day out for Stars veteran Norris against Gilmore, one of the best ruckmen in all of local footy. He’s not going to be winning many hitouts on Saturday, especially at centre bounces, but he can have an impact at ground level. Gilmore is going to give Paradians first use on most occasions but Norris is capable of locking the ball in on the ground and giving his midfielders a chance to shark Gilmore’s taps or win the ball back through pressure.

PATRICK FARRANT v WILL GILMORE

Will Gilmore might have some sympathy for Norris, not because he’s Sam brother but because he faces a similarly difficult task stopping Patrick Farrant. The Collingwood VFL-listed forward was the difference-maker in the major semi-final, kicking eight goals in a six-point win. The Raiders will have learnt plenty from that loss and Gilmore can expect plenty more help on Saturday. Paradians had the best defence in the competition this season and Gilmore’s return to the club has been a significant part of that.

JAI BURNS v KYLE O’SULLIVAN

The midfield battle will be fascinating and it would be great to see these two stars go head-to-head at some stage. Both capable of winning the inside ball but also carving up on the outside. On the smaller Lalor Reserve, clearances – particularly centre clearances – are going to be critical and Burns and O’Sullivan will have big roles to play.

JORDAN PROCTOR v LACHIE KERR

Kerr is the Raiders leading forward this season and has had some success against Fitzroy, kicking three goals in the Round 3 win and two in the Round 13 loss. He missed the major semi-final and returned for the preliminary final but was kept goalless for the first time this season. The young Proctor has proved a capable lockdown defender this season and looms as the likely match-up.

KEADIN RONNAN v JOEL TOLLI

While Burns and O’Sullivan are the midfield generals, Ronnan and Tolli are the two ambitious young bucks ready to make a name for themselves. Whoever can gets hands on the pill first can quickly put their team on top and generate momentum. Tolli was among Paradians best in the two games he faced Fitzroy, Round 3 and the semi-final, and will be a key player again. Ronnan has the ability to either shutdown Tolli or break the game open himself.

Patrick Farrant in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Field of View Photography

Old Paradians forward-ruck Lewis Franz. Picture: Andy Brownbill

X-FACTOR

RAMAN WINMAR

Was named best-on-ground in the major semi-final win over Paradians, showcasing his agility and speed around the contest and quickly turning defence into attack. Was also among the best in the Round 18 win over Kilmore so takes a strong formline into the grand final.

LEWIS FRANZ

After a quiet year in front of goal the Raiders key forward (and back-up ruckman) has burst into life the past few weeks. He kicked three goals in the qualifying final and preliminary final wins over Mernda and while he booted just the one in the semi-final loss to Fitzroy, he’ll be looking to be more dangerous in the decider.

EXPECTED LINE-UPS

Fitzroy Stars are expected to have a settled line-up after having the week off to freshen up. They made one changes between the Round 18 win over Kilmore and major semi-final, Jaxon Proctor coming out for Tyson Pickett. Proctor, Josh Wanganeen, Keith Morgan and Jai Nelson are all in consideration for the final 22.

After its semi-final defeat, Paradians made three changes for the preliminary final as key players Noah Whittle, Sean Desmond and Lachie Kerr all returned. Stuan Thomson, James Healy and Kyle Mahoney came out with Mahoney racing the clock to be fit after playing 12 senior matches this season. The Raiders’ reserves lost the preliminary final but Max Taylor, Andrew McCann and Ryan Gleeson played strong games to put their hand up if needed, while Jack Witchell and David Huntley are also in the mix.

Lionel Proctor in action for Fitzroy Stars.

Old Paradians coach Ben Turner.

COACHES’ SAY

Lionel Proctor (Fitzroy Stars): We definitely need to be strong around the contest. With Sam Gilmore in there, we’ve got to keep him under control and they’ve got a number of good onballers. We got the win but we certainly learnt a lesson from the semi-final, don’t switch off in the last quarter. It’s important we play the game right out for the full 120 minutes.

Ben Turner (Old Paradians): It’s going to be tough, I felt like in the semi the Stars were better aroudn the foot. Their pressure was excellent and they just out worked us. For me, the game will come down to who wins it in the middle and around the ball where we just need to raise the bar.

VERDICT

The sun should be shining on Lalor Reserve and hopefully the wind is at a minimum to let these two teams go properly head-to-head.

If the semi-final result showed us anything, it’s no lead is safe on the smaller Lalor Reserve.

Any bit of momentum must be exploited to its fullest before it goes the other way.

Fitzroy Stars led by 48 points in the fourth quarter of the semi-final before Old Paradians stormed home with seven straight goals to full one kick short.

They say you learn more in defeat than victory and the Raiders will have got plenty out of its review.

Any team with Sam Gilmore is going to be a threat and that final quarter surge and the preliminary final thrashing of Mernda showcased what a weapon he is.

However, it might have been the scare the Stars needed too when a comfortable 10-goal win might have left them complacent and vulnerable.

While they can’t combat Gilmore – who can? – the Stars do possess arguably the stronger midfield lead by Jai Burns, Kain Proctor and Keadin Ronnan.

The likes of Tyson Pickett and Neville Jetta will probably rotate through there as well, while Patrick Farrant is the most dangerous forward on the ground.

PREDICTION: Fitzroy Stars by 12 points.