PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINALS – PREVIEW
The Premier League concludes on Sunday with five different teams featuring in the Grand Finals.
First Grade – Wollongong Olympic v Coniston FC – 3.00 pm @ WIN Stadium – Sun 21 September
Wollongong Olympic have had a strong season, keeping the majority of last year’s Grand Final winning side, and they overturned a two-goal deficit in week two of the Finals to make the Grand Final.
Legends Tynan Diaz and Chris Price look set to be playing their last games, and there will be plenty of emotion and desire to send them out in style. Olympic has plenty of attacking threats and depth. This match might well come down to which team can handle the pressure moments.
Coniston, meanwhile, needed penalties to overcome Wollongong United. This is a side that is built on resilience and character. It’s a youthful side that has legs, and they may well be banking on their fitness and speed to get the win.
If Coniston can start fast and enforce themselves physically, it could be very tight; however, Olympic are full of potential game winners and will, in most people’s views, start as favourites.
Youth Grade – Wollongong United v Bulli FC – 12.30 pm @ WIN Stadium – Sun 21 September
Wollongong United has featured in the Grand Final all but once in this grade over the last 13 years. It’s a remarkable achievement, and as runaway League Champions, they will no doubt be hard to beat.
United has lost just once all season, although they have found the going a little tougher in the latter part of the season.
Bulli are a late replacement for the unfortunate Cringila, who were disqualified this week after fielding an ineligible player in the Finals. They are no strangers to Finals football, having made the Youth Cup Final earlier this year. They have come from fifth to make the final.
Bulli have nothing to lose, and with little expectation, they could well produce an upset here, but they will need to get off to a good start. We expect Bulli to put up a good fight, but it’s hard to see Wollongong United drop this one.
Second Grade – Bulli FC v Cringila Lions – 10.00 am @ WIN Stadium – Sun 21 September
This is an intriguing match-up to kick off the day. League Champions Bulli dominated the season with a blend of experience and youth, and they will no doubt be confident heading into the decider.
Cringila have been one of the form sides in the latter part of the season, storming into third spot, and they showed their potential defeating league runners-up Helensburgh 3-0 last week.
The last time these two sides met, the Lions came out on top. In fact, they haven’t lost to Bulli this season.
Bulli will probably start as slight favourites; however, we are not discounting Cringila in this one. There won’t be much in it, and we won’t be surprised if this is decided on pens.
