Lavington and Yarrawonga will meet in the league’s closest modern-day rivalry in Saturday’s grand final.
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Just 12 goals have separated the teams in their last six matches, including three one-pointers.
Lavington fell to Yarrawonga in last year’s decider by two goals, but it will carry an unbeaten season record into the clash at Lavington Sportsground.
“I would say we’re probably more balanced, our depth and our versatility is probably better than last year,” Lavington coach Tamara Mathews said.
“Just the way we’ve been able to rotate some of our players throughout the season, it stands us in good stead if we need to make changes on game day.”
The Pigeons are through to their 11th successive grand final after six premierships.
“We looked at this season as being a real rebuilding year for us,” Yarrawonga coach Bridget Cassar said.
“We sat down at the start of the year and obviously missing key players for four or five or nine games and that was the bulk of our squad from last year.
“Nineteen players have played through our A grade this year, a lot of them are playing in our 16 and under’s this week.
“We said if we can have a top three finish, then that’s fantastic.”
It’s the third time the pair has met in the grand final over the past five seasons.
Lavington toppled the Pigeons by four goals in 2013.
“We know that we have to step up and prove ourselves against Yarrawonga in a grand final,” Mathews said.
The Panthers pipped the Pigeons by a goal in the second semi.
Both coaches maintain they’re unlikely to change their starting sides from their most recent games.
“They have all grown up together and it doesn’t matter who you take out of that core group, you replace it with somebody equally as good,” Lavington’s Sarah Senini said.
“You take Steph Tyrell (former Toni Wilson medallist) out and you put Abbey Jones in, you take Kylie Leslie (ex-Toni Wilson Medal runner-up) and put in an Annalise Grinter.”
For Jones, it will be her fifth A grade grand final at just 19.
“Yeah, it becomes easier …it’s kind of like another normal game to me,” she said.
Jones and Cassar face the Panthers’ three-pronged defensive line-up of Toni Wilson Medal runner-up Sarah Meredith, Kate Yensch and Rhiannon Dolahenty.
It’s a favourable forecast too, partly cloudy with a maximum temperature of 24 degrees.
And the league will run courtesy buses from the SS&A Club and Lavington Coles.