TOPIC:

Who is excited for finals football? MrM is. What about everybody else? "Yes we are too MrM!" That's great to hear from you all in the coterie. Let's put last weekends antics behind us and focus on all those sides lucky enough to be playing finals. Scarborough earned themselves a nice week off after finishing the season off in top place. Wembley must have taken umbrage at MrM's comments 9 weeks ago saying the top 3 was locked and have turned it around coming home fighting since Round 10 and jumped into second place. Wanneroo managed to secure third place after a mostly consistent season. Swan Athletic and Hamerlsey Carine round out the top 5 and after starting the season off quite strong they slid down the ladder and will battle it out in an Elimination Final.

It's looking like a wet lead up to the game so a few of the tracks will be a heavy 10, probably a bit of luck no final at Wanneroo Showgrounds this week. If you're looking to stock up on necessities for canteens throughout the finals head to one of Tony G's local stores to grab your produce, you can do no wrong. MrM thinks if your canteen cannot offer up hot chips during finals, you should be stripped of finals at your ground. So hire a deep fryer (a nice rhyme) and get into action and give the people what they want, HOT CHIPS.

I'll have a look at finals for League and Reserves, I was going to do Colts, but 6 games was too much for this great gent, perhaps I'll have a look at them next weekend, so let's talk some football now.

Elimination Finals @Fawell Park

Reserves

Hamersley Carine (4th) v Swan Athletic (5th)

Previous meetings this season
Hamersley Carine 5.9 (39) defeated Swan Athletic 4.6 (30)
Hamersley Carine 8.11 (59) defeated Swan Athletic 8.9 (57)

Hamersley will at least have some support up at Swan Athletic this weekend. The Reserves will need to be ready as Swan Ath are hosting all 3 of their grades on Saturday, after a good season, a loss here and it will all be over. Swan Ath have a good opportunity as a club to capitalise on 3 "home" games and get 3 wins. I think Swan Ath might be too good at home, however Hamerlsey have had the wood on them in close encounters this season.
Swan Athletic by 2 goals

League

Swan Athletic (4th) v Hamersley Carine (5th) MOTR

Previous meetings this season
Swan Athletic 4.16 (40) defeated by Hamerlsey Carine 10.12 (72)
Swan Athletic 11.4 (70) defeated by Hamersley Carine 12.5 (77)

Swan Ath and Hamersley Carine both started the season off strongly, but for one of them it will be a season that could have been as it will finish Saturday, with all on the line it will be a good contest which is why I've awarded this the Match Of The Round.

Swan Ath have a good strong forward line which have been consistent all season. If they fire on Saturday it might be enough for them to get over the line. Hamersley stumbled mid season after a few players went on holidays, but have gained some form back with their big forward returning. It could come down to a battle of the midfields, and if the rain continues it could be the bigger strong Swan Ath that stand up. I'm thinking Swan Ath can reverse the results again Hamerlsey this season.
Swan Athletic by 1 goal

Qualifying Finals @Pat Goodridge Reserve

Reserves

Wembley (2nd) v Whitford (3rd)

Previous meetings this season
Wembley 11.5 (71) defeated by Whitford 11.11 (77)
Wembley 9.3 (57) defeated by Whitford 12.6 (78)

Wembley have a good chance as any to advance in the finals here but you must be wary of playing a Reserves side in the finals who has their league side out of the competition. Wembley do play their ground well though. Whitford will be looking to get something out of the B Grade season and it could be a Reserves flag. Wembley should get it done here as they are one of the better Reserves sides I've seen all season.
Wembley by 2 goals

League

Wembley (2nd) v Wanneroo (3rd)

Previous meetings this season
Wembley 10.8 (68) defeated by Wanneroo 15.11 (101)
Wembley 15.13 (103) defeated Wanneroo 8.5 (53)

Wembley stormed home in the second half of this season and haven't dropped a game since the half way mark. They have a potent attack and love to pile a big score on the board. If they play like they have been in the last 10 weeks then a win could just be a mere formality. Wanneroo came back to earth last weekend licking their wounds after a disappointing loss saw then slip out of second place and lost the chance to host this final in the process. They will need to bring there "A" game if they want to come away with a victory on Saturday, MrM thinks come 2.30pm they will be ready to go. It will be a good contest between two sides who love to attack the football, so I'll go with my heart here and say Wanneroo will come home with a victory.
Wanneroo by 1 goal

Good luck to all playing finals this weekend. Play in the right spirit and enjoy the opportunity.

Cheers as always for the write-up MrM.
For what it's worth, my tips:

Reserves
Swan Ath to beat HC
Whitford to beat Wembley

League
Swan Ath to beat HC
Wanneroo to choke on hot chips, get beaten by Wembley, then go out in straight sets the week after, thus giving the boys another crack at B Grade in 2016 (line has been cast ).

Thanks for the write ups all year Mr M. I, along with a lot of others look forward to reading your take on local footy, each week.

Swan Ath to have a successful day and win Reserves and League.

Wembley to win the reserves and just lose a cracking league final, with a kick on the siren.

Wanneroo vs Wembley should be interesting. Both teams have ability to post large scores so should be attacking game. Game will be won in midfield, as if wanneroo can get a decent amount of inside 50's they should win the game. Wembleys back 6 are deplorable...Major weak point of the side, so Wembley rely heavily on there couple of mids and then the 2 forwards to kick bags. If wanneroo can get the ball forward enough times they will win.

Swan View vs Hammersley. Swan view with a full side are a 10 goal better side, but injuries and holidays are hurting them at the moment. Still think they should win easy enough here as Hammersley played above themselves early in the year have done well to hold a top 5 spot.

Thanks for taking the time and reading The_Duck and Champ Kinds.

I hope you're wrong The_Duck, although I've loved B Grade and the antics here, a part of me hopes to move on and write about bigger and better things next year. I like Champ Kinds idea of a final, but MrM might need the defibrillator out if that happens, after too many hot chips throughout the years MrM might not be able to handle that.

Elimination Final
Swan Athletic (4th) v Hamersley Carine (5th)
Always enjoyed the Swan Ath hospitality and Hamersley seem to have tailed off somewhat
Swan Athletic by > 3 gls

Qualifying Final
Wembley (2nd) v Wanneroo (3rd)
If Wanneroo can keep Noakes to less than 3gls they will get up. Both clubs deserving of a shot at the Scarborough Maroons.
Wanneroo Cardinals by > 3gls

Swans vs HC.
Not sure bring boys back from piss drinking trip in Europe is going to help HC. Swans outfit is quality though struggling with a few injuries.
Swans - 3 goals.

Wembley vs Wanneroo.
Wembley are running hot at the moment winning their last 9 games. Wanneroo has what it takes to match them bit will need to do some soul searching and a big turn around after getting done by Collegians. Perhaps Wembley with a home ground advantage and pressure on the ball carrier will be too much for Wanneroo.
Wembley - 25 points.

Reserves.
Swans vs HC.
HC have been a decent team all year and will benefit with the Europe boys coming back to boost their numbers. Swans perhaps rely too much on a handful of players - they have lost a lot of games by not very much and I am expecting a similar result.
HC - 7 points.

Wembley vs Whitfords.
Whtfords have had Wembley's number on both occasions throughout the season. Can they make it three in a row? They will benefit from the League side missing the finals however, you could state the case the Wembley will benefit from having theirs in. From what I have seen when Wembley are hot they are tough to beat. They have the best percentage of the league and can smash teams out of the park when they are on. We saw this when they thumped Scarborough by 10 goals in round 9. Whitfords have a strong midfield and have some strong run, however I think they will need to bring their A game and Wembley will have to play poorly to lose - unfortunately I can not see the later happening
Wembley - 36 points

First things first, Well done MR M on a fantastic write up each week, look forward to your preview and then your review of the game. (especially the canteen)

Will you rank the canteens in order? Best chips, service?

On to the real stuff,

Qualifying Final
Wembley (2nd) v Wanneroo (3rd)

After a slow start Wembley have come home with a big rush to grab 2nd spot and the home final, can they continue this form now the real stuff starts or have they spent all there petrol tickets getting there. Wanneroo have been around the place all year and will be disappointed to not be playing at home this week.

Wembley's backline is its weakest point so if Wanneroo can get enough supply they will get the job done but in saying that Wembley's mids and forwards are some of the best going around and I think they will just get over the line in a close one.

Wembley by 8 points


Elimination Final
Swan Athletic (4th) v Hamersley Carine (5th)

Both these teams were flying at the halfway mark but have both fallen away badly with injuries and holidays being a major factor. Hamersley are 2/0 against ath this year so they should be confident going into the game even though it at aths home ground.

Could come down to the survival of the fittest this match but some serious questions must be asked over selections or should I say non selection of ath players, very dangerous to go into finals with injured players and leave your best player in the reserves.

Lets hope this doesn't hurt them come 5pm tomorrow afternoon.

Swan ath by 2 points.


Good luck to all teams and if results go they way I have selected I look forward to seeing MR M up at Wanneroo next week.

Swan Ath have gone down by 5 points in a low scoring but entertaining game of colts footy.

whitfords 7 6 48
swan ath 6 7 43

Well done to Damon and the boys on a great year in making the finals.

Collegians league side beat kingsway in the colts qualifying final by 10 goals. Good luck to Wembley next week