Bears ready for big stage


Published on Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Author : Jarryd Barca

Banyule is prepared to face an avenged South Morang outfit when the two sides meet in Saturday’s Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 grand final.

The Bears took a shortcut to the decider after comfortably beating the Lions in the second semi final.

But Banyule coach Pete Davey knows this week’s clash, also at the Whittlesea Showgrounds, is going to be much different, with the premiership cup on the line.

“It’s a grand final so they’re (South Morang) going to be pushing right out until the final siren goes,” Davey told NFL.org.au.

“But also just the occasion. Grand finals are usually a more contested game and that perceived pressure that isn’t there can sometimes make people do some silly things.

“It’s going to be a very different game to any game that we’ve had so far.”

Saturday’s grand final will be Banyule’s first in the NFL since crossing over from the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in 2015.

Davey believes it is a massive achievement to reach a grand final so soon after switching competitions, particularly after missing out on the finals over the past two seasons.

“At the start of the year we set a goal of improving and getting the culture right,” he said.

“I think the club sort of put that as a goal just getting to finals and really getting that experience. Getting a double chance was massive and winning the second semi was enormous.

“Personally I put in some goals I wanted to tick off as a three-year plan and we’re ahead of where I hoped, which is really pleasing.”

With unpleasant weather conditions forecast for Saturday, Davey admits the side that puts its head over the footy for longer will be “better suited”.

“We’ll be prepared for a few different scenarios. Whatever they throw at us we hope we’ll be able to counteract,” he said.

“Absolutely (the game will be won at the stoppages). Whoever wins that battle and the ruck contest, giving their on-ballers first use.

“It’s easy to say games are won in the midfield, but that’s simply going to be the case, especially in these conditions.”

Davey will take significant confidence into the game following the second semi final win, where the Bears were victorious by 36 points.

“I think we did a good job at shutting down their running game in the second semi,” Davey said.

“That’s where they tore us to pieces in the middle of the year and it’s something that we did focus on.

“We know when they’re up and running and get the ball on the outside, they’re really dangerous and have really good ball users.

“Having that last win over them, we’ll take confidence out of that.”

After taking the short route to the grand final, Davey believes his side couldn’t be in a better position to contend for a flag ahead of Saturday’s decider.

“We had as close a blowout as we could to a match simulation (in the week off) and hope that’ll hold us in good stead,” he said.

“But outside of that, we’ve been fortunate we’ve been able to manage our list toward the back end of the season.

“We had a few games going into the last three or four rounds where we were able to rest a lot of players.

“It’s rare you come to a grand final with the options that we have. We’re in a really fortunate position.”

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