Premierships and Promotions on the Line
25 Aug, 2010
With half of the grand final teams decided last week, this week’s preliminary finals will be hard fought as teams compete for the chance to not only contend for the premiership but also to advance into the next grade.
The B Grade preliminary final will be between Swan Athletic and Maddington at Claremont Oval this Saturday, with the winner heading to the grand final to face Collegians. This week is the second chance for Swan Athletic to make the grand final. After defeating Hamersley Carine two weeks ago, Swan Athletic lost last week’s second semi final to Collegians 9.9 (63) to 19.10 (124).
Maddington can advance to their second consecutive WAAFL grand final with a win this week, having last year claimed the C Gold premiership. Their path through the B finals has seen them record wins over West Coast Cowan in the elimination final and Hamersley Carine in last week’s first semi-final. Swan Athletic has won both encounters with Maddington this season, in round two by two goals and in Round 11 at home 13.10 (88) to 6.8 (44).
Collegians has beaten Swan Athletic on both occasions this year and Maddington in Round 6, however Maddington is also the only team to have defeated the minor premiers this season, winning at Harmony Fields in Round 15 by eight points.
This week’s C Black preliminary has Kalamunda taking on High Wycombe at Eftel Oval for a spot in the final. These two teams have met twice this season. In Round 9 Kalamunda picked up the one goal away win while High Wycombe got the two goal win at Ray Owen Reserve in the last week of the regular season.
Their match up two weeks ago in the qualifying final was won comfortable by Kalamunda, defeating High Wycombe 14.17 (101) to 4.8 (32) at Ray Owen. Kalamunda got a taste of their own medicine last week however, falling to Scarborough at Millington Reserve by 51 points. High Wycombe faced a tough encounter with Kelmscott last week that saw the home side narrowly pull through with the three point win. Scarborough, who holds two wins over High Wycombe by a combined 129 point margin, will be awaiting the preliminary final winner in the grand final.
Kalamunda is the only team to have beaten the minor premiers this season, having done so by 26 points in Round 8, though their more recent meeting had Scarborough the 49-point winners. Wanneroo take on Thornlie at Richard Guelfi Reserve in the C Gold preliminary final, with the winner going on to face Bullcreek Leeming in the grand final next week. Minor premiers Wanneroo have their last chance to make the grand final this week, after losing to Bullcreek Leeming by 45 points in last week’s second semi-final. Thornlie have had a more successful run this finals campaign, defeating Warnbro 16.18 (114) to 9.8 (62) in the elimination final two weeks ago and disposing of last year’s runners up Kingsway by a margin of 55 points. Wanneroo have won both matches against Thornlie this season. In Round 9 Wanneroo picked up the 38-point win at the Wanneroo Showgrounds and in the last game of the regular season Thornlie lost at home by four points.
Wanneroo is the only top five team not to have beaten Bullcreek Leeming this year, losing in rounds five and 14, the latter by just one point. Thornlie defeated Bullcreek Leeming in Round 7 by seven points however they also lost to the grand finalist in by 15 points in Round 16 at Thornlie Oval.
