By Nicholas Duck
It all comes down to this.
Saturday’s Gippsland League senior football grand final will see a rematch of last year’s thrilling decider play out as Traralgon seeks back-to-back flags against Leongatha.
The powerhouse pair have broken clear of the pack as the year has gone on and have emerged as the two best sides in it – hardly a surprise, given just 12 months ago they were also getting ready to face off for the flag.
Traralgon now has their eyes set on the top prize once again while Leongatha are into a staggering ninth consecutive grand final.
Leongatha entered that day in 2024 as heavy favourites only to leave empty-handed, the Maroons putting together their finest performance of the year to topple the top team by 25 points.
This year has looked a lot different for both teams in the road to September.
While on paper it looks like Leongatha has cruised to another top of the table finish, it’s been anything but.
Injuries and unavailability have plagued the Parrots’ campaign, seeing them miss several of the senior veterans for vast stretches throughout the year.
Familiar names that have carried them to past glories like Cade Maskell and Tom Marriott haven’t been called much as years gone by, leaving it to others to lift in their absence.
That’s not to say they’ve been bereft of quality – just the opposite.
Seasoned superstar Aaron Heppell has been on hand to steer things through the midfield, along with Kim Drew and recently crowned Trood Award and Rodda Medal winner Ben Harding in his first season with the club.
Throw in the occasional appearance by Aaron’s brother and former Essendon skipper Dyson and that’s a potent mix, only boosted by Marriott’s recent return.
Recruit Patrick Ireland has also proven to be a shrewd pick-up. The Buln Buln-based youngster came to the club off the back of a triple-digit goalkicking season with the Lyrebirds in the EDFNL and has adjusted to the higher league with aplomb, booting 57 goals from 17 games.
The Maroons have had a bit of a funny old year themselves.
At times they’ve looked the world-beaters that put Leongatha to the sword on that incredible day last year, and at others they’ve looked a bit more pedestrian.
Traralgon knocked off their fellow contenders with regularity throughout the year, including Leongatha themselves on one occasion, but also dropped games they shouldn’t have, particularly a late collapse against Warragul and a truly bizarre loss to Maffra.
They’ve come good at the right time of the year however, winning their final four home and away games and rolling Moe twice in finals.
The worry is how they went in their second semi final loss to the Parrots, in which they were held goalless past half time to slip by 20 points.
Their usual run and gun attacking flair was blunted to great effect and they’ll have to recalibrate if they are to win another flag.
The midfield match-up will be key here. The previously mentioned Heppells and Harding will have to go toe to toe with a midfield featuring quality players like Luis D’Angelo, Connor Ambler and Jordan Cunico.
Helping Leongatha’s case will be the absence of one of their biggest enemies last year. Traralgon’s 2024 ruck Max Jacobsen, who was a major factor in last year’s result, is no longer with the club, giving Parrot big man Ben Willis a lot to like.
The battle inside Leongatha’s forward 50 will also be one to watch.
The Maroons love their swingman skipper Tye Hourigan precisely for his ability to get them rolling for their devastating counterattacks of half back.
Leongatha’s forwards, namely Ireland and Jenson Garnham, simply can’t let him do what he wants or it’s going to be lights out, especially if Traralgon’s more dangerous goalkickers like Dylan Loprese and Jackson McMahon get one-on-one opportunities.
Don’t be surprised if Hourigan also heads forward at some stage to give his side another dimension.
Both teams have been here before. Hell, the Parrots know grand final day better than just about anyone.
And based on how the year’s played out you’d have to have them entering as favourites, albeit not by a lot.
But that’s just how punters saw last year’s grand final, and look how that turned out.
Regardless, there’s a lot to play for and fans will enjoy every minute at the Morwell Recreation Reserve.
Get down there, watch the livestream on YouTube or turn on your radio because you won’t want to miss one.
