St Patrick’s College prepare for first decider in intermediate in the Herald Sun Shield

One of the most dominant schools in the Herald Sun Shield enters a new frontier in the competition for the first time. Find out how you can watch the grand finals on Wednesday.

If St Patrick’s College wins in the intermediate competition in the Herald Sun Shield it won’t just be a win for the city of Ballarat.

It will be a win for some of the other country areas of the state as well.

St Patrick’s College for the first time will play in the grand final in the intermediate competition, taking on Parade College, after beating Marcellin College by 81 points in the semi-final last week.

WATCH THE HERALD SUN SHIELD BOYS DIVISION 1 DECIDERS

While their senior team has been the kings of the Shield, making the past 12 grand finals, the intermediate team hasn’t had the same success until recently.

“We’ve played off twice before in the semi-finals and lost both of those but this time we’ve had a bit of fortune, got a good group of players and it’s just come together,” St Patrick’s College coach John Richards said.

“Hopefully we can put on a good show against Parade.”

The group of players have not only come from Ballarat but the surrounding country areas in the state and from other parts of the country.

St Patrick’s College’s Archie Caldow represented Victoria Country earlier this year in under-16. He is also a talented athletics runner. Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“You can see quite a number of Ballarat East jumpers (East Point players), I think they have the greatest representation of any local club in our side, which is a good thing” Richards said.

“We’ve also got boys from Central Highlands Football League as well, which is also satisfying (having) major league and minor league in the area having an opportunity with us.

“We (also) have boys that have come to us as far away as the Northern Territory and Wentworth in New South Wales.

“We’ve also had a couple of fellas from Kyneton in central Victoria.”

Then there is Bendigo’s Oliver Hannaford and Koroit’s Strahan Robinson who dominated to help St Patrick’s College win.

Robinson kicked five goals with Hannaford leading the midfield charge alongside Jack Ough who also moved to Ballarat recently from Wentworth in New South Wales.

St Patrick’s College’s Oliver Hannaford looks to have a big future. Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Richards believes both Ough and Hannaford have the potential to be seriously looked at by AFL clubs in the next couple of years.

He’s also compared Robinson to a great.

St Patrick’s College’s Strahan Robinson could be the match winner in the final. Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

“He’s a very strong dominant forward, probably in the mould of Jason Dunstall,” Richards said.

“He has a strong lead out and can kick the football well.”

Richards added others including Ned Renfree (midfield) and Will Stevens (ruck) would be pivotal to their success against Parade.

St Patrick’s College’s Ned Renfree celebrates kicking a goal during the Herald Sun Shield match between Marcellin College. Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“They’ve got to trust themselves, back themselves in every situation and walk off the ground on Wednesday knowing that they’ve done the best they can do,” he said.

“Hopefully we can win.”

Richards added the battle for the Shield would be fiercely fought in the middle of the park and his team needed to be first to the contest, to deliver the ball forward to their tall targets.

“If we can gain first use of the football out of the middle and get it into our forward line that seemed to work really well last week,” he said.

“Our defenders play a very dough style of defence, they didn’t give the Marcellin forwards any chance (last week).

“(So) if all that comes together (defence and winning the contest) certainly on Wednesday, we’ll put up a fair show.”

The game starts at 11am with a live stream of it here: