The Premier B Men’s Grand Final Preview – Old Trinity vs Caulfield Grammarians

It’s been an incredible season of Premier B competition, with 7 teams still alive entering the final round of the home & away campaign. Now only two remain, and it’s not the two most expected to see on the last Saturday of the season.

Here’s a preview of what shapes as a fascinating Premier B Grand Final:

PREMIER B GRAND FINAL – OLD TRINITY vs CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS (Sat 2.30pm – Trevor Barker Beach Oval)

It’s second versus third at the end of the home & away season, but they both arrive in the Big One having knocked off minor premiers Old Ivanhoe in the past fortnight.

The T’s did it by 17 points in the Second Semi, then the Fields sent the Hoers packing in straight sets by an eye-catching 59 points in the Preliminary Final last weekend. Advantage Grammarians on this front.

They will both run out onto Beach Oval full of confidence after powering through the second half of the season. Old Trinity have won 11 of their last 13, while Caulfield Grammarians have saluted in 9 of their last 10.

Here’s the 2025 Premier B Grand Final by the numbers:

Can the T’s #1-ranked defence continue to force opposition inaccuracy? Their opponents haven’t managed to kick more goals than behinds in a game against them just ONCE in the past 14 matches (Old Camberwell’s 9.6 in Round 11 was the exception).

This is too clear a trend to be a fluke or coincidence. It speaks to the ability of Donald McDonald’s team to pressure opponents into more difficult shots and/or under greater pressure.

Even in Caulfield’s 16-point win over Old Trinity in Round 18, the Fields kicked 10.16 in blustery conditions. (Unfortunately for the T’s, they kicked 8.12 themselves – one of only 3 times in their past 13 games that they have finished with more behinds than goals.)

Caulfield’s inaccuracy has been an ongoing concern for Paul Satterley, who knows you simply have to take your chances in big games against the best teams.

The Fields have booted more behinds than goals in 13 of their last 15 matches. Last week, they kicked 19.7 to punish the Hoers in one of their most accurate performances of the season – what a difference finding the middle makes!

Here’s some thoughts from VAFA Media’s Premier B reporter, Paddy Grindlay:

PADDY’S KEYS TO THE GAME

* Defence Wins Premierships – Oscar Roberts. Charlie Eerhard. Noah Sutherland. Hamish McInerney. Matt Clarkson. Ryan Pietsch.

These are the names of some of the Fields’ most important players, and one thing unites them all: they play their footy in the back half. In their last nine games, the Fields have conceded 10 goals in a game just once, against Williamstown CYMS on the road all the way back in Round 15.

* Run & Carry – Trevor Barker Beach Oval is often affected by a coastal breeze and a sea squall. There’s a decent chance of showers on Saturday, meaning the ground-level game will be critical to victory.

T’s star Sam Phillips was excellent between the arcs in the Second Semi win over Old Ivanhoe, while Fields midfielder Ollie Lowe has been just as good in both his finals appearances.

Look for these two to drive the run and carry game, and whichever team can minimise the impact of the weather by most effectively running the football through the other’s defences might be on their way to premiership glory.

* The Bigger they Are – On Premier Men’s Grand Final day in 2024, it was Old Scotch’s big men – Sam Grant, James Tarrant, Will Clark and Jock Nelson Medallist Ryan Valentine – who dominated.

The T’s have a similar stable of talented talls: Harry Thompson in the ruck, forward Boston Dowling as his understudy, and Dom Payman and Hugh Beasley staying at home up forward. Old Trinity has a size advantage over the stellar Fields defensive unit. It’s one they’ll need to make use of to win the premiership.

But if the weather is inclement, will their size and power be an advantage or a disadvantage?

These two teams have met twice this season, for one win apiece. It was Old Trinity in a 5-point thriller in Round 8, then Caulfield Grammarians by 16 points in Round 18 to secure their place in the finals, albeit after the T’s rested a few players in the last round, knowing that a Top 2 finish was already assured.

Who claims the series decider and heads up to the top-flight with another cup in the cabinet?

VAFA MEDIA TIPS:

Paddy Grindlay:              Old Trinity by 13pts.

“I think the T’s have been the most consistent team of 2025, and I think they will win the premiership.”

Matthew Donald:          Old Trinity by 11pts.

“I think this one is going to be really close. I think these two teams match up really well against each other… Of all the Grand Finals this weekend, this one’s going to be the toughest one to tip… This is going to be the closest match-up.”

What a premiership decider this promises to be, and you can watch it LIVE & FREE on VAFA.com.au from 2.20pm Saturday!