Men’s and women’s CAFL teams primed for grand final matches

The men’s and women’s CAFL grand finals are shaping up to be epics with traditional powerhouses facing off against new foes. Read which players to look out for here.

Premiership droughts in the men’s competition and a clash between the old world and the new in the women’s competition highlights this weekend’s 75th anniversary CAFL grand finals.

Men’s combatants Souths and Pioneer have not won a flag for a combined 20 years.

Souths last held the premiership cup aloft in 2014 when they beat Pioneer by nine points in a game where present day Eagles playing coach Willie Foster won the Everingham Medal as the best player on the ground.

Pioneer’s last premiership was in 2010 when they beat Federal by three points in a thrilling contest.

In women’s football reigning premier Rovers meet grand final debutants West Alice Springs to decide the ninth premiership since the ladies competition kicked off in 2014.

Rovers have played in the last four grand finals, losing to Alkamilya in 2018 and Pioneer a year later before reversing those losses by beating Pioneer in 2020 and Alkamilya in 2021 to square the ledger.

MEN’S GRAND FINAL

Souths

The men’s decider holds a lot of intrigue after a draw and two close wins to Souths in their three meetings this season.

Souths have produced a rags to riches season, replacing the wooden spoon they won in 2021 with the minor premiership and the promise of more silverware on Saturday night.

Coach Chris Forbes is chasing his first senior premiership after a playing and coaching career that has taken in Federal and Souths.

Players to watch in blue and white colours on Alice Springs football’s biggest day include star utility Michealis McMasters, big spearhead Daniel Stafford, veteran wingman Bradley Turner, full back Dominic Forbes and defender Shaun Byrne.

MICHEALIS McMASTERS

A versatile player who can play through the middle, down back or across half forward where, as coach Forbes says, “he shows how to get the ball by going into contested situations with a lot of hardness and when he gets it, what to do with it”.

McMasters expects no easy possessions against a Pioneer side gunning for their first flag in 12 years.

“Everyone has belief and this year’s Souths side is no exception,’’ he told the NT News.

“We know it will be a tough game against Pioneer, but it’s a big day for the club, we’re all looking forward to it with a lot of excitement.

“Forbesy coming in as coach and changing things up has been good and putting a lot of work in before the season and up until now is where the wins have come from.’’

DANIEL STAFFORD

A big marking forward who has already tasted premiership glory with Mt Allan in the Community Competition.

Fourth in the league’s best and fairest count on Monday night, the man they call “Staff’’ can also play in the ruck and defence where his height, strength and football smarts make him a very important player.

Stafford said the confidence within the playing group on winning another senior flag was tempered with the ability and hunger of their grand final opponents.

“We’re confident we can do it, but Pioneer is going to come out hungry and fired up and we know it will be hard game,’’ he added.

“There’s a big build-up already in the few days since Pioneer won the preliminary final, adding something else to a rivalry that goes back a long way with these two clubs.’’

BRADLEY TURNER

The Souths wingman and joint captain with Rob Smith still has a lot of leg speed left at age 35 and 15 seasons at league level (five in a Kangaroos jumper) to pose a big threat to Pioneer.

“I reckon we’ve got the team to do it this year,’’ Turner said.

“We’re coming off a good win over Feds where everyone was switched on, so hopefully they can take that out on the ground on Saturday and stick to the gameplan,’’ he said.

“My uncle is (Souths full forward) Thomas Gorey and we’re both very excited at playing in a grand final together.’’

DOMINIC FORBES

Several Central Australian footy fans rate Forbes as the best full back in the competition with his powerful marking and precise kicking to position.

“Dom can kick on both sides of his body over 50 metre distances, plus I can throw him in as a tall midfielder or ruckman if we fall down a bit in those positions,’’ Forbes said.

SHAUN BYRNE

The Kangaroos defender has plenty of leg speed and possesses a range of skills with hand and foot that will be a big part of Souths’ overall makeup in the grand final.

“Shaun’s another player I can throw around, including the forward line where he do a lot of damage,’’ Forbes said.

Pioneer

Pioneer has won both of its finals after finishing third in the home and away season.

Wins over reigning premier Rovers in the elimination first semi-final and a hard fought preliminary final win over Federal has the green and gold jumpers in their 54th senior grand final.

A phenomenal 32nd flag will evolve around the performances of all 22 players, including veteran goalkicker Matt Campbell, playmaker Jawyon Cole-Manolis in the midfield, ruckman Cheyne Miles, wingman-utility Thomas Swan and Tennant Creek based on-baller Kane Sevallos.

MATT CAMPBELL

A proven goalkicker who played 82 games for AFL club North Melbourne, Campbell’s finals form has been sensational after kicking bags of nine and five goals against Rovers and Federal.

The classy left footer can play up forward, down back or through the middle, but his value in front of goals and work with Shawn Foster will be a key to the Eagles’ premiership hopes.

Third in the league best and fairest’s Minahan Medal count on Monday night behind the winner, Federal ruckman Daniel Gorry, 35-uear-old Campbell is living proof that footballers are like fine wine, they get better with age.

Campbell’s summary of the task in front of Pioneer is simple: “It’s like anything in a game of footy, we’ve got to get out an perform and get the job done, because we’re certainly due to win a flag,’’ he said.

“We’re the only side that has kept it close with Souths in the three times we’ve played them this year, even if we haven’t beaten them.

“Historically it’s going to be a close game and historically it’s a game for the ages with two archrivals who genuinely respect and hate each other at the same time.

“You can talk about the Buffaloes-St Mary’s rivalry, but this one between Pioneer and Souths is right up there.’’

JAWYON COLE-MANOLIS

A hard-working midfielder, Cole-Manolis can find space in light or heavy traffic and link up with play out of the centre or the ball coming out of the back line.

A regular in his side’s best player list, Manolis-Cole’s ability to get the football down to his forwards in a quick and efficient manner will be an important cog in Pioneer’s gameplan.

KANE SEVALLOS

An elusive on-baller enjoying his best season in a Pioneer jumper.

Tennant Creek based, Sevallos makes the 1000km round trip to Alice Springs every weekend with teammates Lachlan Lake and Troy Gillett.

“The drive back to Tennant after Saturday’s win with the boys was pretty good,’’ Sevallos said.

“There’s a lot of confidence among the players that we can do it and turn the tables on Souths after they beat us twice and drew with us.’’

CHEYNE MILES

Pioneer’s tap ruckman and joint skipper, Miles will play a big role in getting the ball down to his midfielders at centre bounces and boundary throw-ins.

“It’s certainly going to be a challenge beating Souths, but if we can go toe-to-toe with them and give our forwards a good look at the ball we’ll be right in the game,’’ he said.

“We’ve got some handy midfielders like young Kane Sevallos from Tennant Creek who reads the ball really well from the ruck and defensive wise there is Troy Gillett and Jackson Cole who have been big players in the middle stages of the game.’’

THOMAS SWAN

The small utility has plenty of pace and reads the play well. Consistently in his side’s best player list, Swan’s run and possessions from a wing against Rovers in the first semi-final played a big role in Pioneer’s narrow win.

WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL

Rovers

Minor premier Rovers enter their fifth successive grand final full of confidence after beating Wests in the second semi-final.

The Double Blues have key players across all the lines and are very keen on winning a hat-trick of women’s flags after losing the 2018 and 2019 deciders.

Key players in the search for a Rovers threepeat include Kirstin Remfry through the midfield, Delsey AhWang in a key forward role, Christa Lingen in defence, Lara Harding in the midfield and Renee Smith in the ruck.

KRISTIN REMFREY

A classy midfielder who has led from the front for a long time as the club captain and a catalyst when the team needs a lift.

She stood down as captain this season to take on an administrative role but is still a big part of the leadership group.

“We were a little rusty at the start of the season, but we’ve come good and hit form at the right end,’’ she said.

“Unfortunately we’ve got a couple of outs with major injuries, but I think we’ve got the depth where it’s needed, including our captain Delsey AhWang who has been a great leader and a positive influence on the girls.

“But Wests will be hard to beat, they’ve matched it with all the teams this year and have come into form when it counts and grand finals are anyone’s game.’’

DELSEY AHWANG

Rovers’ spearhead and captain who has kicked 19 goals in a lead by example performance. Popular with teammates and supporters, AhWang’s goalkicking and organising inside the 50 metre arc is a bi part of the Eagles’ match plan.

LARA HARDING

Played 12 games this season in an on-ball role where she found the ball and gave the Eagles first use.

Recognised as one of the league’s elite players, Harding’s high possession game will ensure Pioneer are right in this game.

“Hopefully we can win our third flag in a row. Westys are a good team and like us, are very fit, so we expect another tough game,’’ Harding said.

“We’ve done most things right this season, but we know Westys will come out and push us, so on the day who knows what can happen.’’

CHRISTA LINGEN

A highly dependable defender who plays close to her opponent and has good skills with hand and foot.

RENEE SMITH

The Pioneer first ruck, who many rate as the best in the women’s competition.

Returned from injury in the second semi-final and immediately found her form to give the Double Blues first use of the football.

Wests

Wests have overcome five seasons of hard work, disappointment and team building to make their first women’s premiership decider

Key Bloods players in their debut in the Big Dance include Hannah Murdoch up forward, league best and fairest and club captain Caitlin Couch in the midfield, Jamara Walker across half back, first year player Alix Wilyman at half forward and Madeleine Tickle at full forward.

CAITLIN COUCH

A defensive midfielder who can float back to help out her defence when it is needed.

She can read the play like a book and position herself to both intercept and receive the football when required.

“We’re ecstatic, straight after the (preliminary final) we couldn’t believe it having got into our first grand final after five seasons of trying,’’ Couch said.

“We can go all they way. The last time we played Rovers in our first final we kicked the first two goals, so if we play the full game and stick with the basics and most importantly, the belief is there among the players.’’

HANNAH MURDOCH

Dubbed “Velcro Hands’’ because of her ability to hold on to the football in contested or uncontested situations, Murdoch’s role as a big marking half forward is a vital cog in the Wests machine.

JAMARA WALKER

An attacking half back who can run with the football and make her way through the lines with pace and evasive skills.

MADELEINE TICKLE

Originally from a netball background, Tickle’s work in the key forward post has won a lot of praise from her coach Alicia Stanley.

Tall with long arms, she can take a contested mark and get the ball to ground to accommodate her small forwards.

ALIX WILYMAN

New to Australian football, Wilyman has shown no fear in her approach to the ball when it has to be won and has impressed teammates and the coaching staff with her ability to win contests.