Final Match Is Anyone's Game
The Age
Saturday September 30, 2006
THE country football season comes to a close tomorrow with a fitting finale. A crowd of more than 15,000, topping last year's record, is expected at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve for the Goulburn Valley Football League grand final between Seymour, the reigning premier, and Benalla.
The Goulburn Valley competition has been so open this season that five teams headed the ladder at some stage during the home-and-away rounds. Seymour and Benalla both suffered slumps, with Seymour losing five games out of six before winning its last five games with an average score of 27 goals.The main forces in Seymour's revival include midfielder Paul Scanlon and ruckman Shane Schottner, who is the captain; the pair recently finished first and second at the Lions' best-and-fairest count. Simon Gordon found form at full-forward while small forward Saad Saad returned to his dynamic best.About 25 fans last year comprised the "Saad Squad" during the grand final between Seymour and Euroa. Wearing red T-shirts with No. 5 on the back, they rose with the record crowd as Saad stood on an opponent's shoulders to take a screamer in the opening quarter. More than 50 are expected to be in the Saad Squad tomorrow.Saad recently has attracted renewed interest from Essendon, where he did a pre-season two years ago. Under the revised rookie rules, which state that every AFL club can now have a 23-year-old on their rookie list, the Bombers are considering bringing Saad, 23, into their fold.In this year's finals, Saad has kicked seven goals against Benalla in the qualifying final and seven against Mansfield in the second semi-final, including four in the last quarter to fire the Lions to victory. Tomorrow, however, the cult forward might be affected by the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.Under the requirements of Ramadan, Saad will be unable to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. The weather in Shepparton tomorrow is expected to be warm.Fans at the Deakin Reserve tomorrow will also be treated to former North Melbourne champion Anthony Stevens' last game of football. The 35-year-old, who has played alongside his brother, Brendan, in the Benalla midfield for the past two years, is retiring.Former North Melbourne teammate Mark Porter, now the Benalla ruckman, last week was best on ground in the Saints' victory over Mansfield in the preliminary final. Others who have been firing for the Saints include midfielder Jason "Jock" MacFarlane, who is the playing-coach.In matches between Seymour and Benalla this season, Seymour won early in the season by 11 points while Benalla won later in the season by 100 points. Seymour won the qualifying final by 41 points. In such a topsy-turvy season, tomorrow's game could go either way.
© 2006 The Age
