Can South Perth finally get that flag they have been so close to in recent years? This could be the best opportunity for them despite it being played on grass. I've heard the track will be fast and weather fine and a fast track may just suit them more than the Doubleview team. It would be an amazing effort if they did considering the personnel that left in the off season, but it shows that teams and clubs can pull together and if you get a group if 16 swimming in the same direction then high achievements can be achieved.
But it won't be all smooth sailing for them, Doubleview are a powerful outfit and used to winning flags. The availability of John Slavich in the 2nd half has given the team the spurt they needed and they have looked super in the run home. It's a squad that can play on all surfaces and whether home or away they would fancy themselves to win all games. That confidence comes from years of playing together and winning.
So who's going to win? I think it will be a cracker and worth watching. If you can't get to Bassendean then tune in to the live stream. It is South Perths best chance but I will stick with Doubleview by single digits.
ONE WHITE FINAL
KARDINYA v SAFETY BAY
Kardinya have been the dominant team all year and a rematch of the semi final which went the way of Kardy by 44 shots. During the season both teams won their home fixtures, it was one of only 3 losses for the year for Kardinya, so Safety Bay can have something to draw on. Both teams played at Bassendean during the year and won those games, so they would both be confident of winning at the venue. Both synthetic clubs and both fast surfaces as well so if the speed of the Bassendean green is tyo be believed then it won't frighten the players at all, so it will come down to who plays the big bowls during the game. I think it will fall the way of Kardinya by 10-20 shots.
ONE BLUE FINAL
OSBORNE PARK V VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE
On face value the Victoria Park Carlisle team have taken all before them this season, built around the class of Lee Such and Graeme Wishart, they lost only 2 games and look to be overwhelming favourites but it's always hard to line up North v South results. Which division is stronger? Osborne Park ultimately finished on top but that wasn't known until 5pm last week and they did only lose on 3 occasions this year. Has the toughness of Blue North conditioned Osborne Park better for a grand final? It is stacked with experience as well from Neville Stevens, Mark Pasalich, Gordon King to name a few, Premier League flag winners so they know how to win the big games.
Wouldn't it be exciting if we saw a draw and had a 1 end playoff? It's gonna be close, if I had to pick someone I would lean towards Victoria Park but it's going to be a fun game to watch.