Preliminary Final 2007 Played at Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre Sunday September 2

 

Railways                       2.0                   6.1                   11.1                 15.3 (93)

Kalgoorlie                    1.3                   5.4                   6.7                  9.8  (62)

 

Goalscorers Railways: Michael Towns 5, Rhett Foster, Craig Menhennet & Carl Armstrong 2, Meshek White, Aaron Rymer, Anthony Frayne, & David Stubbs 1.

Goalscorers Kalgoorlie: Peter Lehman & Wes Miller 2, David Clarke, Andrew Cullen, Mitch Smith, Justin Langridge & Ben Stein 1.

 

Best Players Railways: James Langley, Rhett Foster, Ryan Armstrong, Cory Jones, Stuart Gould & David Stubbs.

Best Players Kalgoorlie: Justin Langridge, David Clarke, Lee Boath, Ben Stein, Lindsay Pankhurst & Scott Freeman.

 

Railways Ins: Craig Menhennet, Michael Towns & Michael McLean

Railways Outs: Tristan Nelson, Justin Giles & Clinton Freeman

Kalgoorlie Ins: Adrian Franklin & Ben Stein.

Kalgoorlie Outs: Murray Pitts & Steven Wilson

 

Field Umpires: Matt Hosking, Anthony Kerr & Paul Matthews.

Goal Umpires: George Gale & Graham Davis.

 

In bright and sunny conditions the 2007 League Preliminary Final was a Kalgoorlie derby and was delayed by 15 minutes when the Reserves Preliminary Final finished in a tie at fulltime between the same combatants, with the Roos prevailing in that match in extra time.  The delayed start didn’t seem to effect either side as the expected tough, tight and physical clashes highlighting a low scoring first quarter, with Railways both goals scored by Carl Armstrong, however just after the quarter time siren Armstrong was red carded for striking Roo Brendan Cullen, and therefore took no further part in the game and faces a nervous time leading up to his tribunal appearance.  Roos Skipper David Clarke was prolific in the opening half but sadly for Kanga’s they failed to make the most of chances and after trailing by 3 points at quarter time, also trailed but that same margin at the half.

From the third quarter onwards the game swung in favor of the Panthers led brilliantly by 2007 Mitchell Medalist in James Langley who started to win the ruck knocks and also dominate around the ground and possibly would have finished the game in the top 3 possession winners and the leading mark taker, this effect inspired vice captain Rhett Foster who kicked two vital goals in the third, both reading the play from a pack spillage, while in defence Railways tightened the screws on the Roos to restrict them to 1.3 while the Panthers amazing accuracy in front  of the sticks continued with 5 straight goals.

Railways entered the final term full of confidence but had to battle as the Roos who had a restricted bench at times through this quarter with injury to Cameron Brown (shoulder), Darren Coyle (ankle), Peter Lehmann (heavy knock) & Michael Roberts (wrist) and closed the margin to 13 points mid way, but Railways then steadied with conversions to Craig Menhennet and sealing goals to Michael Towns who finished with a game high 5.  Railways also had some injuries with Brendan Sacilotto leaving the ground with a hip injury, 2007 Rookie of the Year Dave Harring several times under the blood rule and having also lost Carl Armstrong with his quarter time Red Card.

The Panthers will be well pleased with a working effort to enable them to Play Mines Rovers in this Saturdays Night Grand Final and the chance to go back to back, while Mines will be clear Favourites having defeated the Panthers on all 5 occasions this season, and well rested while watching the Panthers and Roos go for it in the Preliminary.

 

Minor Grades Preliminary Finals

Reserves (won in extra time) Kalgoorlie 15.10 (100) def Railways 12.17 (89)

Colts Railways 15.9 (99) def Mines Rovers 10.5 (65)

 

GFL Grand Finals Saturday September 8th at Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre

 

Colts Boulder v Railways at 1.45pm

Reserves Mines Rovers v Kalgoorlie at 3.45pm

League Mines Rovers v Railways at 6pm

 

League Grand Final Mines Rovers v Railways Preview

 

Round 3 Mines Rovers 19.10 to Railways 6.7 margin 81points.

Round 8 Mines Rovers 11.8 to Railways 9.11 margin 9points.

Round 13 Mines Rovers 16.4 to Railways 7.13 margin 45 points.

Round 18 Mines Rovers 9.14 to Railways 9.6 margin 8points.

Second Semi Final Mines Rovers 8.10 to Railways 7.7 margin 9points.

 

-Mines Last Finals win against Railways was the Second Semi Final this year, winning by 9points August 26^th.

-Railways Last Finals win against Mines Rovers was the First Semi Final 2005 when winning by 110points.

-Railways Last win against Mines Rovers was Round 18 2006 when winning by 98 points.

-Last Grand Final Clash between the two was the historic 2002 GFL Night Grand Final where Railways caused one of the biggest upsets in GFL history when defeating the then undefeated Mines Rovers 14.11 (95) to 10.16 (76) by a margin of 19 points.

-Mines last Grand Final victory against Railways was in 2001 where the two clubs played in the season decider in 2000 Railways 2001 Mines 2002 Railways.

 

Mines have won all five clashes against Railways by an average just under 31 points but have not met this season under lights, but the last two clashes have both been by less than 2 goals.  This is a delicious match up with Graeme Borchet coaching Mines, when it was he who was in charge of Railways in 2002 to break the hearts of the Diorites, and then also in 2000 again against Mines when playing for Railways he kicked 7 goals en route to best afield honours and the Fyson Medal.  Borchet played 92 League Games for Railways in two stints from 1992 to 1994, and then spent 3 seasons at the then powerful UGSFL side Boddington before returning to Railways to play from 1998 before retiring mid year as player/coach in 2002.  Borchet is a favourite son at Railways who has also coached a winning GFL side at Landmark and also the Railways Colts Premiership of 2005, but upon missing the senior post at Railways in 2006 moved across to the club he has caused so much mayhem against.  Mines won only 4 games in 2006 but 2007 has been a different proposition only losing the two games to Kalgoorlie and welcoming back a host of experienced players including Kalgoorlie Miner Footballer of the Year in Trent Moon, Rob Hansen (full season after injury limited him in 2006), Russell Walton, Steve Dewar, Mitch Graham and Brett Turner (up from the reserves) and the recruitment of former Kambalda Fairest and Best winner in Matt James who finished second in this seasons Dick Robinson Medal with 41 goals.

While at Railways Conan Wheatcroft who was appointed to the senior Panther role in 2006 and bobbed up with a premiership in his first senior season, has been a multiple premiership coach at colt’s level at both Railways and Mines Rovers.  Wheatcroft played in a colts premiership with Railways and played 3 league games with the Panthers between 1988 and 1989 before switching to Mines Rovers where he added another 22 league games for the blue and whites between 1990 and 1993, Wheatcroft has also been successful at association level coaching the GFL to victory more than once at the Great Southern Colts Carnival.

Both coaches are success stories and have a rich appetite for victory and premierships, which creates the perfect backdrop to then what is actually going to happen on the field, The Diorites have had an outstanding 2007 and victory Saturday night will put a full stop to a campaign which begun the moment 2006 ended, the Diorites have a great blend of height and power, experience, run and youth while Railways have the same but may lack less in the height and power stakes, though could argue they have the potential for more run and pace.  The thoughts of all leading into this match is what effect has Railways bruising Preliminary Final encounter had, they may need to replace Brendan Sacilotto (injury) and Carl Armstrong (tribunal pending), Mines should be unchanged from their second semi final side, can history repeat itself like 2002 or will Mines simply play the footy they have shown all year and bury some monkeys along the way?

 

Grand Finals since 1997

1997 Boulder def Kalgoorlie

1998 Boulder def Railways

1999 Kalgoorlie def Mines Rovers

2000 Railways def Mines Rovers

2001 Mines Rovers def Railways

2002 Railways def Mines Rovers

2003 Mines Rovers (undefeated) def Boulder

2004 Mines Rovers def Boulder

2005 Boulder def Kalgoorlie

2006 Railways def Boulder

 

The Premiership Ladder

Mines Rovers 37

Railways 28

Boulder 26

Kalgoorlie 12

Kambalda 3.