By David Nagel
Have the planets perfectly aligned for Tooradin-Dalmore or will Phillip Island’s constellation of stars become a cataclysmic force when the Seagulls and Bulldogs collide in the WGFNC grand final at Garfield on Saturday?
Not even a NASA scientist could have planned things any better for Lachie Gillepsie and his Seagulls, who are looking to break a drought that is beginning to feel like it dates back to the start of the solar system…4.6 billion years ago.
It’s actually 25 years…but who’s counting!
That’s still a long time in football, and the gravity of the situation is not lost on anybody at Seagull-land.
Breaking the drought is going to be an astronomical task against a Bulldogs outfit that seem magnetised to the biggest show on earth.
They play in grand finals for fun!
But to win it this year, and make it three premierships on the trot, the Bulldogs have had to dodge some space junk and particles that have been orbiting the galaxy at the Cowes Recreation Reserve.
Injuries to their skipper, and arguably best midfielder, Jaymie Youle, and premium defender Daniel Pearce, both in the latter part of the season, have meant a new formation of stars was required.
And last week’s preliminary final win over Warragul Industrials, while one to be savoured, has to be factored in when looking into the horizon.
The Seagulls sat back and watched as the Bulldogs played a brutal four-quarters of football, then two periods of extra-time, in one of the most dramatic finishes seen in this part of the universe.
Gillespie loved it…to the moon and back…but is wary of the positives and negatives.
“It could go either way, they will believe it gives them belief and connection, and provides a real wave of momentum and emotion that they will play off,” he said.
“But they’ve also played another really tough game, and that’s tough both physically and mentally.
“Obviously we hope it has taken a toll, but the only thing I can control is us and making sure our processes are right and making sure we’re in the best position to go out and perform for four quarters.
“If we do that, we’re pretty confident we will acquit ourselves well.”
Gillespie says his confidence stems from solid systems and structures, and a healthy list to execute those plans.
“I think we’ve got a pretty healthy list, we’ve got our ones and twos in a grand final, which is a fantastic asset to have, having a full squad at training,” he said.
“And with the break we’ve had the ability to get our boys right and put time into our game as well.
“I feel confident that we’ve done everything well off-field to give ourselves the best chance of performing; now we just need to execute.”
Phillip Island coach Beau Vernon will step down after the grand final, with this week’s game seeming an added bonus after his Doggies looked dead and buried against the Dusties last week.
But up stepped 18-year-old Orlando Kane-Gillard, with a clinical after-the-siren goal.
It’s that emerging talent, and balance across the board, that gives Vernon hope that he could sign off in the best possible fashion.
It’s time to pass the baton!
“(Brendan) Kimber and Cam (Pedersen) are great players, but they’re in their mid30’s and we shouldn’t be relying on those blokes for us to play our best football,” Vernon said.
“They’ve led the ship over the years but we need these young blokes coming through and playing their part.
“They’re intimidating figures those two because they’re such good players, and have been such good players, but the younger blokes have realised they really need to step up, and we need them too for us to be successful.
“Everyone contributed today against the Dusties, it was awesome.”
Vernon is under no illusion as to the task at hand.
“No doubt they’ve been far and away the best team in the league, they haven’t won a flag in 25 years and there’s going to be a lot of pressure on those blokes,” Vernon said.
“They really want to win and I’ve been in that position at Leongatha, we’ve been a successful club and haven’t won a flag for a long time, so there’s pressure there.
“But no doubt they’re an awesome side and we’ll need everything to go our way.
“But we’re there and we give ourselves a chance.”
Gillespie heaped praise on this opponent in equal doses.
“They very rarely lose games of footy, and they just fight it out every time,” Gillepsie said.
“The second semi was tough the whole way through, physical, and Beau’s a fantastic coach that will come with a different look.
“He’ll change things up and we fully expect them to come out and throw absolutely everything at us.
“They’ll give everything; they don’t just give away games, particularly big ones like this.
“To underestimate them would be a silly thing to do.”
Gillespie said winning a premiership, and joining past coaching greats like Billy Morrison, 50 years ago, and Jon Gahan, 25, would mean the world to him, but not as much as his club.
“It would be huge, it would be a great honour to be connected in some way with those coaches…it would be an amazing honour,” he said.
“But I keep saying it, and I truly mean it, it would be such a great thing for the club more than anything else.
“For the players it’s fantastic, but for the whole community at Tooradin, the whole club, it would be more special and that’s where I would probably get most out of it.”
You will Lachie Gillespie…you’ll be a premiership coach at 5pm on Saturday after a 32-point triumph!
