Nambour & Hinterland vs. Logan City
In the biggest game of the year, the competition’s two most consistent performers will battle it out at O’Callaghan Park on Saturday to see who will take home the ultimate prize. The two sides have played out some intriguing contests this year, with Nambour taking the point the first time they met in round eight, and in the Semi Final only two weeks ago. Although Logan has only won one of the three games, they still managed to finish atop the ladder at the end of the season to take the minor premiership. As they know, all this means nothing unless they can get the job done this weekend, as they have taken the long road to the Grand Final following their loss to Nambour earlier in the finals series.
Logan’s hard fought win against Beenleigh will be a significant confidence boost as they came from behind to overrun the buffaloes in the second half.
Beenleigh got the jump on the Cobras in the opening quarters, but Logan came out after the main break with all the grit and determination needed to win finals footy. The big guns all stepped up for the occasion, as Karl D’Orazio and Dylan Witney kicked four and three goals respectively, and Sam Moran providing the Cobras with plenty of run and also had two goals of his own. Skipper Dan Milligan was inspirational in a characteristically workmanlike display.
Throughout the season it was clear that these two sides would be the most likely to playoff for the flag, and the finals series has failed to disappoint.
On Grand Final day it will come down to who has turned up to play and who wants it more. Very little has separated Logan and Nambour this season so picking a favourite would be close to impossible. Only two weeks ago Nambour travelled to Tansey Park and won their spot in the Grand Final, giving them a week’s break and plenty of confidence heading into this one. Chris Abraham has had a fine year and will be ready to go on the big day, as will the Nambour & Hinterland strike force fronted by Simon Pickering and Adam Thornton. For Logan, it will be Captain and League Medallist Dan Milligan playing a leading role in this weekend’s result. He has been the standout performer all year and the Cobras will want another big one from him this week. Dylan Witney will also have to be influential on the scoreboard and around the ground, as will Ellery Bowman and forward Karl D’Orazio.
The Last Five Weeks:
Logan – WLWWW
Nambour – WWWLW
Head-to-Head This Year:
Round Eight
10.14-74 Nambour & Hinterland def. Logan City 10.8-68
Round Seventeen
11.9-75 Logan City def. Nambour & Hinterland 9.4-58
Semi Final
8.10-58 Logan City def. by Nambour & Hinterland 11.11-77
