BUNDOORA, VIC. (NFNL HQ). — Eleven teams began the season in the Northern Football Netball League’s Division 3, seeking a premiership cup. From very early in the season, two teams stood out.
Those two outfits, Ivanhoe and Laurimar, have made it all the way to that first Saturday in September. They face off this Saturday at Lalor Reserve.
Externally, most tipsters would’ve labelled this grand final match-up as a near certainty. Inside the four walls of the Hoers and Power, however, it may have been a different feeling. It would’ve been more about getting all the little things right, dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, and hoping you have a healthy list come finals time.
Wayne Schultz’s team has the opportunity to make history. No Division 3 team has ever made a clean sweep of both the regular season and the finals series. The Fitzroy Stars came close last season, finishing unbeaten in the regular season before losing their first finals game. They then regrouped to take the flag.
While Ivanhoe went through the easiest way: bye, finals win, bye and grand final, Laurimar had to play in all three weeks of the finals in the lead-up to this Saturday. On the surface, the quick way is better. It has worked for Heidelberg in Division 1 for the past four years.
Not so for the Stars in 2024. They finished on top and took the short route to the grand final, only to be rolled by Old Paradians in the big one. It is quite unusual for teams to have two byes in three weeks, and this may have disrupted the rhythm of the Stars. It could also be argued that the Raiders were the better team on the day, or that the Stars kicked themselves out of it.
It will be something that the Hoers will need to manage in terms of training loads in order to be in top form on the day. Their fans will be very confident based on the three wins this season against the Power by margins of 35, 20 and 34 points. These results will see them go in as firm favourites.
In assessing these games, Laurimar coach Jimmy Atkins would probably feel that a win is achievable if they can do all the little things right and ensure that Ivanhoe doesn’t score a succession of quick, unanswered goals as occurred early in the final two weeks prior.
The midfield battle looks intriguing. Ivanhoe has Riley Loton, Alex Federico, Kane Veliou and Daniel Horsfield regularly in the centre square and giving their team plenty of drive.
Up against them will be Luke Wilson, Bailey Lacleod, Joel Lawson and Josh Campbell.
Add to the mix a couple of players who both appeared in their team’s last match after missing quite a bit of football. Vivian Blackmore-Moore returned for the final for the Hoers and hadn’t played since the Round 8 win over Laurimar, where he was among the best. The Power saw the return of Jesse Donaldson last week. He hadn’t played since Round 14, and both players should be better for the run.
All eyes will be on top goal-kicker Patrick Fitzgerald, who booted seven goals in a quarter last weekend. Michael Doyle looks to be the one to get the job on him. That clash could be crucial to the outcome. While Doyle will be doing his best as a lock-down defender, he will be hoping that the pressure upfield will ensure Fitzgerald doesn’t get too many good looks.
Down the other end, the goals may be spread around more. Patrik Della Rocca is Ivanhoe’s leading goalkicker on 49, while Charles Robinson, Tristan Stead and Marcel Moran have regularly booted multiple majors in games. The Power defence will be kept busy trying to keep this quarter in check.
While both teams can move the ball smoothly when in full flight, the battles this season have been tough, contested matches. Expect more of the same this time, with some exciting football when teams do manage to get the ball into space.
It could be argued that both teams deserve to be in Division 2, given their form lines of 2026. But only one will hold the cup aloft. It shapes up to be a great spectacle.
The Division 3 Grand Final will be live-streamed on Sportscast Australia with commentary on Plenty Valley 88.6FM from 2pm.
