See it on Streamer: The match-ups and players to watch in smorgasboard of local footy deciders

Grand final week is the best time of year for many reasons. Clubs are writing the final chapters of their season long storybook, physically and mentally preparing for a war of attrition.

Streamer has been home to an array of sporting leagues across the east coast and this weekend is set to showcase the high-end talent they’ve got on offer.

AFL Sydney

The North Shore Bombers are taking on Manly Warringah in a match-up that would have fans already leaning one way. North Shore have finished the season with a pristine record of 18-0 and have caused headaches for opposition coaches. The Wolves finished second on the ladder with their only two losses coming at the hands of the Bombers. In the women’s premier division, Manly is featuring again, but this time it’s against the East Coast Eagles.

In the men’s game, keep an eye out for Ned Campbell (North Shore Bombers) and Sam McMeeken (Manly Warringah Wolves). Over in the women’s final, East Coast’s Michelle Foscarini and Manly’s Hannah Woolf will be the two players that can change the fortunes of their respective sides.

EDFL

Competition heavyweights Keilor and Pascoe Vale are set to play out one of the most highly-anticipated grand finals in recent memory. After going almost two seasons without a loss, Keilor shockingly dropped their first final against the Panthers and had to endure a tough contest against Strathmore in the to secure their grand final berth. Pascoe Vale ambushed Keilor only two weeks ago, winning convincingly by 34 points.

Despite both sides being littered with local and former AFL talent, there will be a St Kilda flavour in the game with gun forward Ahmed Saad (Pascoe Vale) and dynamic midfielder Nick O’Kearney (Keilor) being the prime movers.

BFNL

Only percentage separated Sandhurst and Gisborne at the end of the regular season, but it was the Gisborne Bulldogs who had the last laugh, defeating the minor premiers comfortably in the qualifying final by 23 points. Sandhurst were forced to endure an immensely tough preliminary final and got out of jail, kicking two late goals against Strathfieldsaye to give themselves another crack at premiership glory.

Former Hawthorn forward, Fergus Greene (Sandhurst) will need to lean on his AFL experience to get his side over the line, whilst Flynn Lakey (Gisborne) will be looking to add a premiership to his already stellar season. This is a game not to be missed.

AFL Cairns

To no one’s surprise, the top two teams have made their way to the AFL Cairns senior men’s grand final. After a close encounter with Cairns City Lions in the preliminary final, North Cairns come up against South Cairns Cutters who they faced only two weeks ago in one of the best games of the season. These two teams have played out some enthralling contests across the season with the majority of games only separated by a kick.

Damien Hill (South Cairns) has been the focal point up forward and will look to find the goals on Saturday whilst midfielder Kevin Canendo (North Cairns) will need to continue to dominate if the Tigers are to win the flag.

Goulburn Valley

Both Euchuca and Shepparton finished the season with a 17-1 record, absolutely dominating the rest of the competition. Euchuca took care of the Bears with relative ease in the first final, but we know grand final day is different. Shepparton has plenty of fire power in the front half, as four of their players are in the leagues top 10 for goal kicking.

Euchuca is home to former GWS player, Sam Reid, who has played a key role in leading his side up until this point. For Shepparton, Ashley Holland has been influential in the middle of the ground and will feature heavily on the big stage.