GDCA captains have say on Bacchus Marsh, Sunbury United grand final
Bacchus Marsh and Sunbury United clash for the GDCA McIntyre Shield premiership on Saturday so who better to predict the winner than the men who face them every week.
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Rival GDCA captains are split on who will win Saturday’s grand final between Bacchus Marsh and Sunbury United.
The two teams have been clear standouts this summer with the Bulls losing just one game and the Bees two throughout the McIntyre Shield campaign.
Home ground advantage could play a critical role in the decider.
Bacchus Marsh’s Maddingley Park is well suited to the home team and Diggers Rest Bulla skipper Lindon Dowsett believes it will be the deciding factor.
“It’s a genuine 50-50 but purely for home ground advantage, I’ll say the Marsh,” he said.
“In saying that, Dilan Chandima is unbelievable, he can take the game away from anyone and they’ve still got Upul Fernando and Ryan Billinghurst.
“The Marsh have got Kieran Atkin back who’s a class player and they’ve obviously got James Lidgett who’s made a hell of a lot of runs and Alex Porter who’s really blossomed the last few years.
“It’s definitely going to be a batting grand final it’s just whoever can stay disciplined with the ball and hold their chances in the field.”
Both teams possess powerful batting line-ups.
Bacchus Marsh is led by captain-coach Lidgett, who scored 511 runs this season at 63.88, with Porter not far behind on 507 runs.
United boasts the competition’s leading run-scorer, Chandima, who has routinely destroyed attacks this season on his way to 849 runs at an incredible average of 141.50.
Woodend’s Warren Else and Romsey’s Ben Way both believe Bacchus Marsh’s bowling attack will give the Bulls the edge.
“I’d say Bacchus, they finished on top and I think they’ve got a stronger bowling attack, which will make the difference,” Else said.
“They’ve got similar strengths in the batting but on paper I think Bacchus has the edge with a slightly stronger bowling attack.”
“If I had to pick I’d pick Bacchus Marsh based on their bowling attack,” Way agreed.
“They’re both batting teams, they rely on their batting, but if Bacchus Marsh can strike early and keep it tight that will be the difference.”
Sunbury United claimed the only clash between the two teams this season, a 44-run victory at Maddingley Park back in Round 4 with the Round 11 match washed out.
Gisborne captain Jason Wilson agreed with Dowsett that home ground advantage was important but believed the Bees could repeat their Round 4 win.
“I think Bacchus Marsh playing at their ground is a distinct advantage,” Wilson said.
“But I’ll say Sunbury United because I think they’ve got a bit more depth in their team.”
Interestingly, the Bees were missing Chandima last time they faced Bacchus Marsh and the star opener is coming off back-to-back centuries.
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East Sunbury captain-coach Liam Sherlock said it would all come down to Chandima.
“It will rely on the main man, Dilan. He’s been pretty influential throughout the season,” Sherlock said.
“Bacchus have got Atkins, Lidgett and Porter so it could be a pretty good batting day. It will be pretty close.”
The grand final is scheduled to kick off at 1pm.
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