Outer East league: Ex-AFL pair Aaron Mullett and Joel Garner to lead Wandin’s flag tilt

An all-star attack, an in-form skipper and a hungry and healthy list has Wandin primed to challenge Narre Warren in the Outer East league grand final.

Joel Garner (left), Patty Bruzzese and Aaron Mullett will fuel Wandin’s premiership tilt.

Wandin is peaking at exactly the right time.

The Bulldogs powered into the Outer East league Premier division grand final with a 93-point demolition of Woori Yallock on Saturday.

They raced to a 39-point lead by half-time of the preliminary final before unleashing an 11-goal avalanche in the second half.

Former Port Adelaide AFL player Joel Garner kicked five goals and ex-Blue and Kangaroo Aaron Mullett four in the 23.21 (159) to 9.12 (66) victory.

Tom Merlino slotted three goals.

Cody Hirst, Todd Garner, Brodie Atkins and John Ladner were also in Wandin’s best, while skipper Patty Bruzzese was in sizzling form.

Harrison van Duuren on a wing was also influential.

Wandin players. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Bulldogs are primed to challenge reigning premiers Narre Warren in the grand final.

Wandin has definitely made up ground on Narre this season but coach Nick Adam dismissed suggestions his side would go into the decider as favourites.

“I don’t reckon we’re favourites,” Adam said.

“They beat us a week ago (in the second semi-final).

“It was one all during the season. Favourites is definitely not a tag we’ve earned playing against Narre this year, but I think we’ve earned the right to go into the game confident. We’re in it to win it.”

Wandin’s last premiership was in 2018, when it beat Woori Yallock by 37 points in the Yarra Ranges Division 1 decider.

Wandin coach Nick Adam.

Connor Smith (left) will return from VFL duties for the grand final.

Adam says his side is ready for the pressure-packed encounter at Officer on Saturday — and he believes a relaxed preparation will be key.

“I’m really mindful that I want the whole club to enjoy it this week,” he said.

“They don’t come around all that often.

“We know we have a job to do at two o’clock but we we are really big at our footy club around the balance between family, work and footy and ensuring they find joy every time they come to the footy club and they leave with a smile on their face.

“We work hard but we have fun while we’re doing it.

“I’ll be making sure that’s a real focus for us this week.”

Meanwhile, Woori Yallock’s loss was also coach Jack Cole’s last game in charge.

He departs the Tigers after a successful stint but is keen to coach somewhere next season.

Adam said it was a privilege to coach against a man he admires greatly.

“He’s been a fantastic servant of our competition,” he said.

“It’s been a privilege competing against him but also talking footy with him post games.”

Cole coached Healesville to a premiership in 2016 before steering Woori Yallock to a string of finals appearances.