Bendigo, Hampden, Gippsland, Central Murray: Premiership dreams go on the line

Premierships will be decided in the final eight major country footy leagues this weekend. See who is tipped to claim bush footy immortality.

The 2023 country footy season will come to an end this weekend with eight major league premierships on the line.

On Saturday grand finals are being played in the Ballarat, Bendigo, Central Murray, Geelong, Gippsland and Hampden leagues.

The following day the Ovens and Murray and Goulburn Valley flags are up for grabs.

BALLARAT

Darley’s Brett Bewley has been a star since returning from Fremantle. Picture: Andy Brownbill

DARLEY v NORTH BALLARAT

City Oval, Ballarat, Saturday

STORYLINE

Reigning premier Melton made a shock finals exit series with a one-point loss to East Point.

Darley was installed premiership favourite after demolishing North Ballarat by 10 goals in the second semi-final.

North earned the right for another crack at Darley with a 41-point win over East Point in the preliminary final.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final: Darley 14.5 (89) defeated North Ballarat 3.10 (28)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Darley

Brett Bewley: Many consider the BFL’s best player. Former Fremantle player who has match winning talents.

Billy Myers: Returned to his original club from Williamstown where he played in a VFL flag. Big match performer.

Mace Cousins: Played bulk of season with Geelong VFL, but was back for second semi-final and booted three goals.

North Ballarat

Riley Polkinghorne: Member of a family who has produced a host of North Ballarat stars. The midfielder has been in the best 14 times in 2023.

Jamie Quick: Played most of season with Geelong VFL, but has been a reliable source of goals when available. Booted four goals in preliminary final.

Jack Riding: Midfielder who has also had a taste of VFL action at Werribee. Performed at high level when he has played at North.

PREDICTION

Darley 22 points

BENDIGO

Former Sandhurst coach Andrew Collins returned to the club this season. Picture: Zoe Phillips

GOLDEN SQUARE v SANDHURST

Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo, Saturday

STORYLINE

Golden Square’s first premiership in a decade beckons with the Bulldogs extending their winning streak to 16 by rolling Sandhurst in the second semi-final after trailing by three goals before halftime.

Minor premier Sandhurst had to come from 18 points down at three-quarter time to beat Strathfieldsaye in the preliminary final to earn another shot at Golden Square, which it beat in the 2016 grand final.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final: Golden Square 13.10 (88) defeated Sandhurst 11.8 (74)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Golden Square

Tom Toma: Dual club best and fairest whose return from Cohuna has delivered a boost to the midfield and scoring power sought.

Joel Brett: Dangerous small forward who booted 84 goals in the home-and-away rounds plus another six in two finals.

Jake Thrum: The player Golden Square loves to have the ball. Outside speed and booming left foot kick make him a damaging package.

Sandhurst

Sam Conforti: Spent a large part of season with Essendon’s VFL team before returning home. Has a touch of class.

Hamish Hosking: Man-mountain ruckman who got the Dragons rolling at start of last term of preliminary final when staring down the barrel of defeat.

Andrew Collins: Might be in veteran category, but his two goals in the last quarter of the preliminary final showed he will be a factor at some point.

PREDICTION

Golden Square 9 points

CENTRAL MURRAY

Jydon Neagle led Balranald into its first grand final since 2006. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

BALRANALD v KERANG

Swan Hill Recreation Reserve, Saturday

STORYLINE

A fairytale flag is on offer for Balranald, which hasn’t won a premiership since the late Merv Neagle coached the club to glory in 2006.

His son Jydon is the current coach of a team that also includes his two brothers, Matt and Jaxon.

Balranald downed the previously undefeated Kerang in the second semi-final, but the reigning premiers hit back hard in the preliminary final with an 81-pount pounding of Nyah-Nyah West United.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final Balranald 17.13 (115) defeated Kerang 9.11 (65)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Balranald

Matt Neagle: Starred in the second semi-final after playing for Central Districts in the SANFL last year.

Ben Fuller: League’s leading goalkicker who added four to his season tally in the second semi-final.

Ethan Gant: Followed the Neagle boys to Balranald from SANFL and has been a midfield dynamo.

Kerang

Riley Smith: Kerang best and fairest winner who can rip apart a game with his pace and skills.

Josh Nitschke: Captain who plays in the midfield was best-on-ground in last year’s grand final.

Troy Coates: Veteran Kerang coach who also knows what’s required to win on grand final day.

PREDICTION

Balranald 8 points

GEELONG

Fraser Fort has been in superb form for South Barwon this season. Picture: Mark Wilson

SOUTH BARWON v LEOPOLD

Leopold Memorial Park, Saturday

STORYLINE

South Barwon missed finals last year by four matches, but have undergone a major resurgence with former Melbourne coach Mark Neeld at the helm.

They snatched the double chance with victory over Colac in the final round and beat winner of the last two flags, St Mary’s, in the second semi-final before Leopold ended St Mary’s season with an 11-point win in preliminary final.

For the second year in a row Leopold has come from an elimination final to make a grand final under coaching of Garry Hocking.

LAST TIME: Round 11: Leopold 10.13 (73) defeated South Barwon 4.13 (37)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Barwon

Fraser Fort: Ultimate utility player with SANFL experience who can plug holes all over the ground.

Matt Caldow: Captain and strong marking forward with the capacity to kick team-lifting goals.

Taylor Mulraney: Midfielder with premiership credentials with Koroit. Has a touch of class.

Leopold

Marcus Thompson after Leopold downed St Mary’s in last Saturday’s preliminary final. Picture: Mark Wilson

Mitch Burgess: Line-breaking halfback who turned the tide in the preliminary final with his daring run.

Marcus Thompson: Looking to join brother Jai as Leopold’s only premiership-wining captains. Will set the tone in midfield.

Tevan Nofi: The GFL’s best intercept mark. Will be called upon to limit the impact of South Barwon’s damaging forwards.

PREDICTION

South Barwon 18 points

GIPPSLAND

Wonthaggi’s Jack Hutchinson has kicked 33 goals this season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

WONTHAGGI v LEONGATHA

Morwell Recreation Reserve, Saturday

STORYLINE

Wonthaggi endured a heartbreak finish to last season when it lost the second semi by four points to eventual premier Leongatha and didn’t make grand final.

Twelve months later it’s first into the grand final with high hopes of a maiden Gippsland league premiership under 2010 Collingwood premiership player Jarryd Blair.

Leongatha recovered from its second semi-final loss to Wonthaggi and beat Moe in the preliminary final to make it through to a seventh successive grand final which equals the run of Traralgon from 1960 to 1966.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final: Wonthaggi 9.10 (64) defeated Leongatha 6.6 (42)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wonthaggi

Ryan Sparkes: Dynamic midfielder who backed up a great debut season last year with an even better 2023.

Jack Hutchinson: Forward who played with Sparkes at Inverloch-Kongwak before they joined Wonthaggi. Can deliver in big moments.

Isaac Chugg: Former Collingwood-listed player who showed his class in second semi with a booming goal at crucial stage.

Leongatha

Leongatha’s Tom Marriott celebrates a goal in last year’s grand final against Sale. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Tom Marriott: Midfield general who thrives on big stage. Best afield in Parrots’ grand final win last year and starred in preliminary final.

Cam Olden: Played 14 games for Richmond VFL this season. Booted eight goals in qualifying final win against Moe.

Aaron Heppell: Another key player in Leongatha midfield who can also hit the scoreboard with 31 goals for the season.

PREDICTION

Wonthaggi 3 points

HAMPDEN

North Warrnambool’s Bailey Jenkinson and South Warrnambool’s Archie Stevens will go head-to-head again in grand final. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL v NORTH WARRNAMBOOL

Reid Oval, Warrnambool, Saturday

STORYLINE

Koroit’s remarkable run of premiership success is over, leaving a new premier to be crowned.

South finished minor premiers and flipped a late-season loss to North with an emphatic second semi victory.

Mat Battistello has been at the helm of South for five seasons and would dearly love the club’s first flag since 2011.

North Warrnambool joined South in the grand final by beating Terang-Mortlake in the preliminary final and will be banking on a case of fourth time lucky to win its first Hampden league flag.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final: South Warrnambool 12.10 (82) defeated North Warrnambool 5.9 (39)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Warrnambool

Daniel Nicholson: Big things were expected when he returned to the Hampden league and he has delivered in spades.

Archie Stevens: Regular with Carlton VFL side until injuring his foot and starred in his first match since June in the second semi-final win over North.

Ollie Bridgewater: Best performed ruckman this season and needs a big game if South is to salute.

North Warrnambool

Jackson Grundy: North Warrnambool’s Mr Consistent this season played a telling role in preliminary final victory.

Jett Bermingham: 2021 Maskell Medal winner brings a touch of class to everything he does in Eagles’ midfield.

Jarryd Lewis: Small defender gets the job done week in, week out.

PREDICTION

North Warrnambool 1 point

GOULBURN VALLEY

Echuca’s Cameron Valentine is widely regarded as one of the GV’s best backmen. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

ECHUCA v KYABRAM

Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, Sunday

STORYLINE

Echuca has had a similarly dominant season to 2022 when it fought off a gallant Euroa in the grand final.

The only team Echuca lost to this season, Seymour, is out of the race with Kyabram winning through to the grand final by ending Euroa’s finals charge on Sunday.

The Murray Bombers are superbly led on field by co-coaches Andrew Walker and Sam Reid, but Kyabram coach Paul Newman knows what’s required to win grand finals.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final: Echuca 15.9 (99) defeated Kyabram 11.17 (83)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Echuca

Sam Reid: Injuries reduced him to only eight games last season, but he has been a dominant player in 2023 in any role required. Starred in the second semi with four goals.

Jack McHale: Tough as nails midfielder who missed the 2022 premiership due to suspension.

Cameron Valentine: Echuca has GV’s best backline and the centre half-back is one of its pillars of strength.

Kyabram

Kyle Mueller: Quiet in preliminary final, but the small forward did boot four goals against Echuca mid-year.

Anthony DePasquale: Kicked goals when others couldn’t in preliminary final and will need to make a similar contribution if Kyabram is to cause upset.

Toby Wooller: First year with Kyabram. Key defender who will take on a big job against one of the talented Echuca forwards.

PREDICTION

Echuca 28 points

OVENS AND MURRAY

Willie Wheeler has hit his straps for Yarrawonga this season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

YARRAWONGA v ALBURY

Lavington Sports Ground, Sunday

STORYLINE

Former Geelong star Steve Johnson took over as coach of Yarrawonga, which fell three points short of a premiership later taken from Wangaratta because of a salary cap breach.

Yarrawonga was beaten in round 1 by Albury, but hasn’t put a foot wrong since.

They will meet again in a throwback to the early 2010s when the two teams played off in six successive grand finals and Albury had the upper hand 4-2.

LAST TIME: Second semi-final: Yarrawonga 7.14 (56) defeated Albury 4.15 (39)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yarrawonga

Willie Wheeler: Former VFL star who was injured most of last season, but has been a star all year.

Matt Casey: Homegrown key position player who started back before being swung forward mid-year.

Cameron Wilson: Corowa-Rutherglen best & fairest last year who has had an even better 2023.

Albury

Isaac Muller: His recruitment from Wodonga Raiders was a major talking point and will need to play a big one if Albury is to win.

Riley Bice: Difficult match-up for any opposition team. Was a star for the O&M against Goulburn Valley this year.

Jacob Conlan: He and brother Lucas have been great recruits from Griffith. Generally deadly accurate in front of goal.

PREDICTION

Yarrawonga 23 points