AFL Yarra Ranges: Wandin, Woori Yallock to clash in grand final
CAN’T wait until Saturday for your live footy fix? There’s still one more local footy grand final before the weekend’s AFL decider. Here are the details.
Yarra Valley
Don't miss out on the headlines from Yarra Valley. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE AFL Yarra Ranges will be the last Victorian league to stage its grand final, with Wandin and Woori Yallock to do battle in the Division 1 decider on Friday.
The competition’s showpiece fixture has been moved to AFL grand final eve in an attempt to draw a bigger crowd on the public holiday.
EFL POISED TO WELCOME 45TH CLUB
BEST PHOTOS FROM LOCAL FOOTY FINALS
AFL Yarra Ranges general manager Aaron Bailey said it was hoped as many as 5000 people would attend the game.
“We’re hoping to pick up some people to come and watch outside of our traditional market,” Bailey said.
“It’s usually a quiet day, the public holiday, so we hope people see this as a good opportunity to watch a bit of footy before Saturday.”
Bailey said the move to a Friday game was here to stay.
“If the public holiday stays we’ll certainly keep it,” he said.
“The real purpose of what we’re doing is to promote our league and to have clean air compared to what we’ve had in the past.
“We’re getting really good media coverage and we’re getting really good promotion.
“Last year we had our grand final the same day as the Eastern Football League Division 1 (grand final) and Richmond being in a preliminary final.
“I reckon it could be a really good crowd.”
Wandin and minor premier Woori Yallock met in the second semi-final when the Bulldogs recorded an 88-point win.
But Woori Yallock bounced back from the surprise performance to log a 20-point victory over Healesville in the preliminary final.
The Tigers are shooting for their fifth premiership in nine years, while Wandin is hoping to make it two flags in four years.
Bailey tipped a tight contest between the traditional rivals.
“There’s no love lost between the two clubs being a local derby,” he said.
“I’d expect Woori to bounce back pretty strongly but I would think Wandin would go in as favourites.”
The game will be played at Yarra Glen from 3pm.
MORE LOCAL FOOTY NEWS
MICK MCGUANE’S FINE ACT OF SPORTSMANSHIP
FORMER SANFL SPEARHEAD GUIDES EAGLES TO VICTORY
King of the Mountain: De Graaf back in the league he ruled
Jason De Graaf had a brush with league football, but it was to be in the country game where he won acclaim as a player and coach. At 53, he’s back in the league he dominated with a fierce, uncompromising approach.
Grand final wins and a shock or two
Finals accelerated in local footy with plenty of grand final winners as elsewhere there were stunning results as teams looked to qualify for the decider. Here are the talking points from Saturday’s football.