SATURDAY'S under-14 grand final between Swifts and Edenhope-Apsley should be a perfect curtain-raiser for a great day of football.
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It is impossible to call a winner in the game.
Swifts have beaten the Saints in both of their matches this year, but their aggregate winning total is only five points.
The Baggies triumphed 40-37 early in the season and got home by two points in round 14 when Edenhope-Apsley kicked itself out of the game.
Swifts is looking to go one step further after losing in last year’s grand final.
Coach Brian Calovic said the grand final would be another tight affair.
“We’ve had two very good games this year considering the distance between the teams,” he said.
“They have a big drive to get to our home ground and we have a big drive to get to theirs, but I think the teams just match up very well and that’s why the games have been close.”
Sam Raeck and Seth Blake will be two important players for the Baggies.
Raeck led the league in goal-kicking and Blake was named the league’s best and fairest at the junior vote count in August.
Raeck and Blake are the side’s captain and vice-captain respectively.
Calovic said the side’s leadership group would also play a significant part in the game.
He said the Baggies and Saints had a good relationship and both sides respected each other.
“They are a very good side to play in the spirit of the game and they always give us a good contest,” he said.
“It would be nice if the people of Stawell could get down and support us, because we’re playing for the town – not just the club.”
Edenhope-Apsley coach Clayton Caldow said his team, which was the minor premier this year, had the self-belief to win on Saturday.
“They have the league best and fairest and leading goal-kicker, and we’ve got the runner-up best and fairest Corey Williams and the runner-up goal-kicker Jesse Iese,” he said.
“Swifts are a very good side but I think we’ve been a bit more consistent – the only two games we lost all year were to them, whereas they lost to other teams we beat quite easily.”
Caldow said the key to winning would be getting an even contribution from the 14-year-olds down to the 10-year-olds.
He said tackling and pressure would be his side’s focus.
