Lions set to hoist flag

By Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM supporters can play it down all they like but the plain fact is that the Lions are living, breathing certainties to hoist the 2009 premiership pennant aloft at the Toomuc Reserve this Saturday afternoon.
And that statement should give Doveton enough incentive to make the match a genuine, tough, brutal and spectacular finale to a sensational Casey Cardinia League football season.
Both sides will start afresh in attitude this weekend and Lions’ coach Michael Holland has been around long enough to know that history means nought in grand finals.
“It’s a grand final and everyone rightfully throws everything at it, so we’re going to have to lift another gear as well,” he said.
“There’s no trick or secret to these matches. At the end of the day everyone knows what’s required and it’s the side that follows instructions and stays to the plan that will win.”
Full-back Nathan Brown may be the only slight injury concern after twanging a hamstring in the second semi-final, but it is almost certain that Holland will have a full list to choose from for the game, with star youngster John Atwell a good chance to return to the side.
Doveton selectors also look set to welcome back injured trio Ricky Hayes, Brad Downe and Aaron Henwood, creating a dilemma, given three of last weekend’s preliminary final winning heroes will miss out.
Doves assistant coach Clint Wilson, who has been unofficially running the show at the Robinson Reserve all year, admitted Thursday night would be tough.
“All three will be considered and likely come in providing they prove their fitness, but the selection decisions will be hard ones,” he said.
Wilson said he wanted to have a real crack at a premiership before the first bounce of a ball at the start of the year and did not back away from that confidence.
“I didn’t beat around because that’s what I believed,” he said after Saturday’s preliminary final win.
“Of course, the ability is there to win. We’ve been on top for most of the year and the individuals in this group are capable of getting up and playing at their best in a grand final.”
Each side has its crowd-pleasers with Pakenham boasting Luke Walker, Dan O’Loughlin, Jared Goldsack, Ryan Cassidy and Daniel Fry, to the Doves Russell Gabriel, Ryan Hendy, Justin Hill, Michael Henry and Danny Casset.
However, as is usually the case in big games, the result will more likely come down to the performance of the next tier of players and it is here that the Lions look to have the edge.
The fact is that Pakenham is full of footy nerds.
They live and breathe it and will do whatever it takes to achieve the desired result whether they are taking the specky or putting their body on the line off the ball to provide a block for a team-mate.
Doveton is a group of talented individuals who like playing the game and like winning even more, but there is a doubt as to whether they can produce the impenetrable team unity necessary to win a grand final for four quarters.
Both sides will need to put their last meeting out of their heads because the margin will not be anything like 98 points this weekend.
In fact, league officials are terrified that these two sides are so close in ability that they all may be back at the ground for a replay next week.
They need not concern themselves.
The Lions are ready for the challenge this year and will weather the initial Doveton storm to run away with the game in the second half.
Yes, it will be a grand old flag for sure.