A HIGH PRESSURE warning has been issued as Gisborne and Sandhurst fight for the Bendigo Advertiser senior footy premiership cup to cap the ’26 Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The big clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street will start at 2.20pm.
It’s the last hurrah for Gisborne which will play in Ballarat’s competition from next season.
In a 26-year stint in the Bendigo FNL the Gisborne players and fans have marked many highs and endured some tough times too.
On Saturday the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs will be aiming to celebrate a sixth senior premiership.
A win would put Waters alongside Mick McGuane and Marcus Barham as a dual premiership coach following the Waters-led success in 2022.
It would also be a rare feat as Gisborne would join the Brian Walsh-coached Golden Square team of 2001 as the only line-up to have won a premiership after fighting its way from an elimination final.
After last Saturday’s preliminary final victory to end Eaglehawk’s run at back-to-back cup wins, Waters spoke about pride in the team’s performance and a fantastic effort to qualify for the grand final.
He also declared the job was not done.
“Living in the moments is really important. We did that today and have done so in all three finals.”
Sentiment from neutral fans may be with Gisborne which faces a formidable Sandhurst team and a club which is a long-time powerhouse in the Bendigo FNL.
The Dragons are chasing a 30th senior premiership victory.
These clubs met in the ’24 grand final which went Sandhurst’s way, 68-64.
Bryce Curnow was playing co-coach of Sandhurst that day.
This season it’s been Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, who have teamed up to coach the Dragons into the club’s fourth consecutive senior grand final appearance.
For Curnow it’s an eighth senior grand final in a row.
“We have a lot of players in our team who have experienced the highs and lows of grand finals,” Curnow said.
“A key is trusting the process, not worry about the scoreboard, and playing the big moments well.”
It’s what the Dragons did in the second semi-final against Eaglehawk and must do so again.
Those to play big roles for Sandhurst include Wilson Butler and Jaxon Howard in defence, and ruckman Connor Sexton.
This season’s winner of the Bart ‘n’ Print Rising Star award, Howard has taken on many big roles and will do so again.
The talented teenager was named at full-back and is likely to start against Ron Best medallist Pat McKenna who has kicked 89 goals in 17 matches.
After gaining a week’s rest by finishing the 18-round home-and-away series on top of the ladder, Sandhurst fought back to win the second semi against Eaglehawk by four points.
Gisborne’s run kicked off with a 52-point victory against South Bendigo in the elimination final and rolled into a 38-point win against Strathfieldsaye in the first semi.
The Bulldogs turned a 16-point deficit at half-time of last Saturday’s preliminary final against Eaglehawk into a 20-point victory to deny the Borough a run at back-to-back flags.
The euphoria of another grand final appearance was off-set by a broken jaw to brilliant on-baller Brad Bernacki in the last 10 minutes of the contest.
Bernacki will not play in the grand final, but the Bulldogs will be banking on team-mates to lift their game.
Gisborne brought in forward Harry Luxmoore.
Now defensive coach at Gisborne, Jarrad Lynch was sidelined because of a knee injury when the Waters-coached team won the ’22 premiership.
He fought back to play in the ’24 grand final.
Lynch said the team had worked incredibly hard to gain the opportunity to play for premiership success.
“Three weeks in a row we have fought on and overran teams in the second half,” Lynch said.
“There’s a lot of trust that we have the legs and have done the work to run out every match.
“It all starts with pressure, especially against a team as skilful as what Sandhurst is.
“We want to make it a dogfight. Pressure on from the start and crank it up as the game goes on.”
Quick movement to an attack led by Pat McKenna, Zac Denany, Matt Merrett and Dominic Sullivan will be crucial to Gisborne’s chances.
It’s been a remarkable debut season for young ruckman Lucas Carnell who was among the best in the preliminary final.
Carnell’s leap and athleticism will test Dragons’ number one ruckman Connor Sexton.
At ground level the Bulldogs have Dylan Johnstone, Flynn Lakey and Adam Brancatisano at centre ball-ups and stoppages.
They will be up against Dragons’ captain Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson and Dayten Uerata.
Key targets in Sandhurst’s attack include Cobi Maxted, 37 goals; Hugh Schmetzer and Lachlan Wright.
There’s also the class of Nick Stagg, Oliver Morris and Jacob Austin to swoop on the spilt ball in the forward 50m arc.
Gisborne captain Zach Vescovi has had an outstanding season at full-back which is where he was named in the Bendigo FNL Team of the Year and also as captain.
The ability of Jed Denahy, Will Elliott, Frank Schipano and Harry Thomas to win or spoil in marking contests and also launch counter-attacks is a big part of Gisborne’s game.
A Ron Best medallist as the competition’s leading goalkicker, Greene has switched to a new role on a wing, but has kicked 28 goals and will be a threat any time he is near goal
On the other wing the Dragons have the hard-running and talented Caleb Connick.
Sandhurst’s team:
B: Eamon Austin, Jaxon Howard, Harrison Free.
Hb: Wilson Butler, Liam Ireland, Jack Keating.
C: Fergus Greene, Dayten Uerata, Caleb Connick.
Hf: Jacob Austin, Nick Stagg, Oliver Morris.
F: Lachlan Wright, Cobi Maxted, Hugh Schmetzer.
Foll: Connor Sexton, Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson.
Inter: Darcy Mills, Gus Hay, James Coghlan, Noah Willits.
Coaches: Bryce Curnow, non-playing; Fergus Greene, playing.
Gisborne’s team:
B: Lachlan Evans, Zach Vescovi, Frank Schipano.
Hb: Jed Denahy, Harry Thomas, Will Elliott.
C: Harrison Bryant, Adam Brancatisano, Lucas Hannon.
Hf: Dominic Sullivan, Shane Clough, Zac Denahy.
F: James Gray, Pat McKenna, Matt Merrett.
Foll: Lucas Carnell, Dylan Johnstone, Flynn Lakey.
Inter: Ryan Bourke, Harry Luxmoore, Thomas Werner, Liam Rodgers.
In: Harry Luxmoore.
Out: Brad Bernacki, broken jaw.
Coach: Rob Waters, non-playing.
Sandhurst’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 114-76 v Eaglehawk at C and M Oval, Canterbury Park.
Rd 2: 170-12 v Broadford at home, Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 3: bye.
Rd 4: 77-49 v Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 5: 121-24 v Kangaroo Flat at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 6: 50-98 v South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval, Kennington.
Rd 7: 65-84 v Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 8: 86-75 v Gisborne at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval, Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 9: 88-57 v Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 10: 69-48 v Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 11: 247-18 v Broadford at Harley Hammond Reserve, Broadford.
Rd 12: bye.
Rd 13: 87-43 v Golden Square at Gourmet Pantry Oval, Wade Street.
Rd 14: 124-51 v Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 15: 91-54 v South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 16: 64-63 v Strathfieldsaye at Triple M Park.
Rd 17: 83-78 v Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 18: 158-29 v Castlemaine at The Railway Hotel Oval, Camp Reserve.
Second semi-final: 79-75 v Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Gisborne’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 176-52 v Kangaroo Flat at home, Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval, Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 2: 89-91 v South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval, Kennington.
Rd 3: 115-80 v Strathfieldsaye at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 4: bye.
Rd 5: 68-67 v Castlemaine at The Railway Hotel Oval, Camp Reserve.
Rd 6: 102-95 v Eaglehawk at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 7: 234-7 v Broadford at Harley Hammond Reserve, Broadford.
Rd 8: 75-86 v Sandhurst at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 9: 97-74 v Golden Square at Gourmet Pantry Oval.
Rd 10: 203-21 v Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval, Dower Park.
Rd 11: 113-59 v South Bendigo at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 12: 86-98 v Strathfieldsaye at Triple M Park.
Rd 13: bye.
Rd 14: 78-54 v Castlemaine at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 15: 76-121 v Eaglehawk at C and M Oval.
Rd 16: 258-16 v Broadford at Gardiner Reserve.
Rd 17: 78-83 v Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Rd 18: 86-65 v Golden Square at Gardiner Reserve.
Elimination final: 105-53 v South Bendigo at Triple M Park.
First semi-final: 107-69 v Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Preliminary final: 71-51 v Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
