Illawarra Mercury Premier League Grand Final Preview

First Grade

Albion Park White Eagles v Kemblawarra Fury

2016 marks a return to Grand Final action for Albion Park White Eagles, who haven’t played at this stage of the Illawarra Premier League competition since 2008. They won the league title and Grand Final double that year but have been out of the limelight ever since.

The Fury may have reformed in 2016 under the Kemblawarra banner, but much of their squad has been here before, and will be hungry to go one better than last year’s Grand Final heartbreak against Wollongong United. Fury Captain Alvin Ceccoli has the pedigree for sure. The ex A-League player has even scored in Grand Finals going back as far as 2009 and 2010.

His side may have won this year’s League title, but they may not go into this game as favourites, having lost on the last two occasions they’ve faced the White Eagles. Once was a couple of weeks ago when Albion Park’s star player Shohei Okuno scored a penalty in the only goal of the game to put his side into the Grand Final. And the other was an unforgettable day in July when the White Eagles ran the Fury ragged with a 5-1 win at Albert Butler Memorial Park.

On paper this Final sees the White Eagles’ flair against the patient build-up play of the Fury. But both coaches are arch tacticians so don’t be surprised by sudden shifts in shape and approach if things don’t go well for either side.

The Japanese trio of Okuno, Kotaro Higashi and Riku Iwauchi have been dazzling to watch this season, but Jeff Allport’s team has talent across the park as well from the likes of Peter Prandalos, Vaughan Patterson (up against former team-mates) and a top gloveman in Bryce Daenell.

Luke Maguire is likely to start with Robbie Shields and Matthew McNab up front, but he also shuffles the pack regularly and Nathan Jagelman has been pushed forward at times, with Fabian Iacovelli always a threat down the left. Shane Murray can play a pivotal role from midfield, with Sam Munro always likely to get in on the action.

This match-up has all the ingredients for a grandstand finish to the Premier League season. This could be a busy afternoon for the defences in both line-ups.

Referee - Bobby Mazevski
Assistants - Nathan Wotton and Blake Herbert
Fourth Official - Steve Bozic

 

Youth Grade

Wollongong United v Woonona FC

Having run away with the Youth Grade title this year, and finished 16 points ahead of this afternoon’s opponents, Wollongong United must go into this Grand Final as hot favourites. But many a cup final over the years at every level of the sport has gone to the underdog so don’t dismiss the Sharks that easily.

United didn’t make the Grand Final last year but they were here in 2014 and were victorious on their last big day out at the WIN.

Bradley Acev has been the United goal machine this season, with an extraordinary tally of 36 strikes and there’s hardly a game goes by without his name appearing on the scoresheet. With 16 goals, Tim Wylie’s goal count would see him as top marksman in most sides so he’ll be another threat for the Woonona defence, especially as he had quite a few First Grade appearances towards the end of the regular season.

The Sharks showed their mettle coming back from a goal down to beat a strong Bulli side in last week’s Preliminary Final. Joel Beattie nabbed a brace that day to make him Woonona’s top scorer in 2016. But back with a fierce appetite for goals in this Finals series has been Caleb Russell. His winner against Bulli last week took his tally to six in three Finals ties.

The Sharks should show no fear against United. They may have lost twice to today’s opponents in the regular season but they were both by narrow margins, and the Grand Final is a whole different ball game.

 

Referee - Tony Bosevski
Assistants - Nick Ryan and Michael Kusi-Apauh
Fourth Official - Andrew Naylor

 

Under-18s

Wollongong Olympic v Tarrawanna Blueys

2015 was the first time Under-18s football had been included in the senior Grand Finals day and it proved a great success with the Blueys falling to Bulli in a six goal thriller.

At the end of that final last year, the Blueys coach said his side would be back all the stronger in 2016, and here they are again now under the stewardship of Beau Cropper, back at the WIN Stadium for a second crack in two years at the Under-18s Grand Final crown.

Tarrawanna came out on top of the Under-18s Division 1, while today’s opponents Wollongong Olympic finished third. Olympic reversed the form in the Semi-Finals, though, booking their place in today’s match with a 2-0 win over the Blueys.

Today’s Grand Finals pits the Division’s best attack force (Olympic) against the side with the best defence (Tarrawanna), though there’s a potential hole to be filled in that Blueys back line as Sam Luyten is suspended after receiving a second yellow card of the series last week.

The Blueys goal threat is likely to come from top scorer Wesley Van Kempen or from the guys who helped them to a 3-2 win over Helensburgh in last week’s Preliminary Final, Sam Miranda and Julio Mushaba.

Olympic’s sharp shooter is Jackson Dent whose 16 goal tally helped his side to almost three goals a game through the 2016 season. He and Michael Kyriakoudes scored in the 2-0 semi -final win over the Blueys, but Tarrawanna would do well also to watch out for Chris Kyriakou who has knocked in a few this season already too.

Referee - Mitchell Thorpe
Assistants - Matilda Davis-Raiss and Emogen Crawley
Fourth Official - Jay Waypole

 

 

By Simon Duffin