Ultimate preview: MPFNL Division 2 grand final between Somerville and Mornington

Somerville and Mornington will clash in a classic flag decider on Saturday. Footy expert Andrew Brady pinpoints key match ups, where the game will be won and names the influential players.

Somerville’s Tom Murphy (left) and Mornington spearhead Jackson Calder will be key players in Saturday’s MPFNL Division 2 grand final.

It has all the makings of a truly great grand final.

Somerville, chasing its first senior flag in 37 years, up against an outstanding Mornington side, led by former VFL star Josh Newman.

A classic contest awaits on Saturday when the Eagles and Bulldogs go head-to-head in the MPFNL Division 2 flag decider at Frankston Park.

So, who wins?

And why?

Leader Local Footy has gone to one of the best minds in Mornington Peninsula football, former coach and player Andrew Brady, and asked him for his thoughts on the game.

Brady looks at the key match ups, where the game will be won and lost and names the inluential players.

And he tips a winner.

Two weeks ago, Somerville swamped Mornington in the second semi-final, kicking six of the last seven goals.

Brady, who commentated the game, declared it “the best game of country footy I’ve ever seen”.

Now Somerville and Mornington meet again, with it all at stake.

Here’s Brady’s thoughts:

OVERVIEW

Mornington love to run and split and hit targets who are running into space. Somerville played a tight, contested brand of footy that stifled the Dogs in the semi but they still possess the talent to score goals. That’s what makes it such an intriguing contest.

Somerville’s Kane McKenzie.

Jackson Calder.

THE KEY MATCH UP

Clearly, Kane McKenzie versus Jackson Calder.

I rate McKenzie, from what I’ve seen this year, as the best defender in the competition.

The difference between the two finals games Mornington has played is that Calder kicked one against Somerville and he kicked eight against Devon Meadows.

Clearly, Somerville has an objective to not let Calder have that sort of an impact.

And I think they’ll use support players like Nick Mason to help McKenzie out.

That is the contest, it’s worth the admission alone just to go and watch those two go at it.

BOTH SIDES’ STRENGTHS

Somerville are really well coached, as Mornington are. I think Somerville work really hard on getting the game on their own terms, that’s what they’ve shown…that’s why they’ve been able to break away from teams.

That seems to be a bit of a mission of theirs: to break the opposition down and then get the game on their terms.

Mornington are a well led, disciplined side whose ball use and ability to hit targets in space is exceptional.

Somerville co-captain Luke Burton. Picture: Valeriu Campan

WHERE THE GAME WILL BE WON

Clearly, it’s going to be a battle of the midfields.

To take honours in the battle of the mids is the footy challenge for both midfield groups and will go a long way to determining who holds up the Cup.

I rate Mason de Wit (Somerville), to me he’s the Marcus Bontempelli of the MPFNL, he’s a six-foot plus midfielder and a left-footer as well.

So you’ve got de Wit, Tom Murphy and Luke Burton up against the likes of Perry Lewis-Smith, Josh Newman and Nathan Heath for Mornington — Heath was outstanding last week.

If you are looking for reasons to go to a local grand final then the battle of the midfields in itself is worth going to have a look at.

Mornington’s Matthew Caine (left) and Harry Bould.

Somerville player Nick Mason. Picture: Valeriu Campan

OTHER KEY PLAYERS

Daniel Marshall (Somerville) — his fend off with a bung shoulder in the last quarter of the semi was right up there as one of the most inspiring acts I’ve seen on a footy field. It also resulted in a goal. Marshall is such a hard, close player, it was clear Mornington were trying to give him some attention but he really stood up to it and rode it out and he ended up being crucial in the victory. The way he wore down his opponents the last time they met was a pattern of the game in itself. He’s the barometer.

Matthew Caine (Mornington) — vice captain…he was outstanding last week and so was Harry Bould on the wing. Caine, he’s hard too…he just doesn’t stop. As a coach you’d love having a Matthew Caine in your team.

Jesse Walker-Swain (Somerville) — last time I felt Mornington rucked Jarrod Hicks too long. Jesse is a winger but he rucked, I think it took him half a game to start believing in himself and then in the second half he just jumped all over Hicks and he was pivotal in getting the run-on that they got. Somerville started playing through him a bit and Hicks couldn’t go with him. Then he actually grew a leg in the ruck contest and he started jumping over Hicks and getting the hit outs.

Tom Murphy (Somerville) — in games like this the cream rises to the top. Murphy is a down to earth individual like Josh Newman who will do anything to bring a premiership to their beloved clubs. Again they are both hard, clean, versatile and big occasion players.

Nick Mason (Somerville) — plays very well loose as the plus-one in the back six, so maybe Mornington will go in with a plan in relation to Nick Mason who won a best and fairest at Somerville when he was 17. And he’s another player who uses the ball so well, his kicking is similar to Jake Smart, they are very effective and very important to their team.

Somerville’s Lachlan Sharp up and about. Picture: Valeriu Campan

OTHER MATCH UPS TO WATCH FOR

I think Lachie Susovich (Mornington) will go to Lachlan Sharp (Somerville) so you’ve got the two Lachies…

Mitch Mantel (Somerville) I think will go to Matthew North (Mornington) and they will try and push North further up the ground , he’s obviously a goal kicker.

I could see Gus Rowler (Mornington) go to Daniel Marshall who they struggled to get a match-up with last time. He may go with him to the forward pocket and the wing but I couldn’t see Rowler following him into the middle.

An underrated player is Connor Jacoby (Mornington) who locked down Alex Canal for Devon Meadows last week, and did a great job. I think he’ll go to Corey Battams (Somerville), who has kicked 26 goals this season.

The other important one…Jake Smart, his kicking is elite and you just can’t let him kick in to teammates from full back all day. And that’s what he did last week (against Devon Meadows).

Somerville, because they play so close, I can’t see that they will have a zone defence for Smart kicking in. They’ll be accountable. I don’t think Mornington will have that freedom kicking in from full back.

Tim Susovich (Mornington) has kicked 48 goals this season. I would think Liam Gruar (Somerville), who made his name as a versatile forward, I can see that he would get the role on Tim Susovich.

Mornington ruckman Jarrod Hicks. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Somerville coach Chris Gamble.

SUMMARY

The good thing about these sides playing each other is that they’re well placed to go up.

They’ve both got strong seconds, they’ve both got really good under 19s, they’ve got enormous depth, they are well coached and they’ll do well in the next division.

That’s a win-win.

WHO WINS?

Sides finish on top for a reason.

That’s why I’m tipping Mornington to win the premiership.

That said, both teams are well and truly ready to win the premiership on Saturday.

WHO ARE THE COACHES TIPPING?

Ryan Hendy (Devon Meadows): Mornington by 25 points. Best-on: Nathan Heath.

Stephen Ryan (Rye): Mornington. Best-on: Josh Newman

Luke Forsyth (Karingal): Mornington by 21 points. Best-on: Jarrod Hicks.

Paul McCormack (Edi-Asp): Somerville. Best-on: Mason de Wit.

Gav Artico (Hastings): Mornington. Best-on: Jackson Calder.

Matt Haverfield (Tyabb): Somerville by 15 points. Best-on: Tom Murphy.

Peter Bastinac (Pearcedale): Somerville by 5 points. Best-on: Josh Newman.

Zac Vansittart (Seaford): Mornington. Best-on: Nathan Heath.