Premier B Blue & White Grand Final Previews

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Nick Armistead – @NickArmistead

Premier B (Blue) Grand Final Preview

West Brunswick and St Mary’s Salesian will reignite rivalries this weekend when they meet for the Premier B (Blue) flag at Marcellin College on Sunday. It will mark the fourth time the two sides have met this season after the Saints ran out one-point winners in a thrilling Development Division 1 decider last year. The Westies will get their chance at redemption while the Saints are one of just three sides capable of going back-to-back in the first two years of VAFA Wilson Women’s alongside Marcellin and Hawthorn AFC.

Head-To-Head

During the home and away fixture, the sides went 1-1 with the Westies claiming a five-point win in Round 5 and the Saints hitting back with a 15-point victory in the final round. Scores were level at the half time break of the Round 5 clash until the Westies peppered the scoreboard with seven scoring shots to two in the second half. Unsurprisingly, it was Premier B Blue Medallist Melissa Lindsay who starred for the Westies, while St Mary’s Salesian second-gamer and pocket rocket Ruby Svarc polled three votes in a BOG performance. Round 14 gave the rest of the competition confidence an upset could occur as the Saints defeated the Westies for just their first loss of the season. Both sides registered 10 scoring shots apiece, but it was the Saints’ accuracy in front of goal proving the difference, with Bec Grant and Alice Angley top-scoring with two goals each. Both sides finished first and second on the ladder and met in the second semi-final at McAlister Oval where the Westies held on in blustery conditions to record another five-point win.

Current Form

West Brunswick: WWWLW

St Mary’s Salesian: WLWLW

The Westies will enter as slight favourites after they earnt the week off following the second semi-final win. While their first loss of the season came in Round 14, they’ve otherwise been flawless with an average winning margin of 35.5ppg from their 14 wins. However, the Saints will be brimming with confidence knowing they can knock the Westies off and were incredible in last week’s 23-point preliminary final win over Monash Blues.

Players to Watch

West Brunswick: Melissa Lindsay & Laura Jago

The 2018 best & fairest combined with the leading goal kicker – need I say more?

St Mary’s Salesian: Bec Grant & Tash Rappos

Run, run & more run is what we can expect from these two stars of the competition. If the Saints are to win, expect this pair to have a real influence across half back and through the midfield.

Premier B (White) Grand Final Preview

Both Scotch Stars and Old Haileybury will look to claim their first VAFA Wilson Women’s flag when the two sides meet at Trevor Barker Oval this weekend. The Stars, in their first season, were one of the standout sides throughout the Lightning Premiership weekend earlier in the year and continued their outstanding form into the season, finishing second with 12 wins. The Hearts will be looking to continue their dream run on Sunday after finishing fourth at the conclusion of the home and away season and defeating Old Brighton & Beaumaris in thrilling circumstances en route to the decider.

Head-To-Head

The Stars hold the ascendancy in the head-to-head battle after defeating the Hearts in both match-ups throughout the home and away fixture. They proved too strong when they first met in Round 6, with the Stars running out 23-point winners on the back of five goals to one in the opening three terms. Lily Goss was a standout for the Stars with two goals and polled three votes accordingly, while Carly Dillon led the charge for the Hearts. Fast-forward to Round 12 and the Stars came from eight points down at the first break with six of the last eight goals of the match, running out 19-point winners. Ingrid Howren dominated with two goals in a BOG display for the Stars, while Jessica Wright booted two of her own for the Hearts.

Current Form

Scotch Stars: WWWLW

Old Haileybury: LWWWW

The Stars seemed unstoppable throughout most of the home and away season until losing top spot to Beaumaris when they fell to Old Brighton in Round 14. That mattered little, however, as they ran away to a three-goal win over the Sharks in the second semi, earning the week off ahead of their flag tilt. The Hearts were still battling for fourth spot in the last round of the home and away fixture as they cemented finals with a 24-point win over Old Mentonians. They’ve since continued to impress with incredible victories over the Tonners and Sharks and enter the weekend full of confidence and on a four-game winning streak.

Players to Watch

Scotch Stars: Amy Arundel & Anna Hayes

While they may not have had any players in the top 10 of the medal count, it’s easy to see why when 16 players poll throughout the duration of the season – more than any other side. Arundel and Hayes are two of their standouts, with Arundel kicking 17 goals this season and Hayes 24.

Old Haileybury: Pulli Gardiyawasam & Sarah Casey

Sarah Casey has played just seven games for the Hearts in conjunction with Southern Saints in the VFLW, but her influence through the midfield as a contested ball beast is as influential as any player in the competition. Combine Casey with the magic regularly produced from the B&F runner-up, Gardiyawasam, and you have a deadly one-two combination.