WANGARATTA will be out to end Lavington’s giant-killing run when they lock horns in tomorrow’s Ovens and Murray third grade grand final at Lavington Oval.
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The Panthers have charged into the premiership decider from the elimination final for the second time in two seasons and Magpie coach Carl Norton is expecting a titanic battle with Kerry Bahr’s line-up.
“The competition from fifth to first all year has been very close,” Norton said.
“It’s probably the closest I have seen it for a long time.
“Lavngton has come from the elimination final to make the grand final for the past two years and they just seem to peak at the right time of the season.”
While Albury finished the home and away series well clear on top of the ladder, Wangaratta and Lavington have saved their best form for the finals to set up an unlikely grand final match-up.
Norton admitted he had his concerns during the season.
“Our last four weeks have been really good,” he said.
“In the last round we played Albury and it probably all came together that day. Before that we were up and down.”
Wangaratta oozes class on most lines through Daniel and Gerard Sharrock, Zac and Darcy Laffy, Daniel Banister, Matthew Teasdale and Leo Dean medallist Hugh Amery.
The Magpies won the 2011 and 2012 flags before bowing out in the preliminary final last season.
“We put a great emphasis on our recruiting in regards to the thirds,” Norton said.
“The club has some really good people involved. “It’s a massive, massive project for the club to go and get the best kids we can.”
Lavington will regain Luke McLellan after he played in the Panthers’ senior team for the past two weeks.
Aaron Jory, Mitchell Lawrence and Ryan Garthwaite are also in form and were crucial against Albury last week.
“We have been building and hit some good form late in the year,” Bahr said.
“I don’t think we are the flashiest side, but our fitness is good and we will need 22 contributors against Wangaratta.
“We don’t really have any standouts.”
Lavington last won a third grade flag in 2009.