By David Harding
Following a very eventful 2012 season for the Mackay AFL competition and all seven clubs involved, it comes down to two clubs, both of whom have dominated the competition during the home and away rounds.
Both the Whitsunday Sea Eagles and Mackay Hawks have maintained their positions at or near the of the ladder throughout the year, despite the occasional loss during the season.
And as both teams enter the 2012 Grand Final with success at this level within the last two years – a win to the Hawks last year, and a win to the Sea Eagles the year before – this match looms as a clash of the titans within the local competition.
Some credit must go the vanquished Eastern Swans beaten last week by a very determined Hawks outfit.
The Hawks side were seemingly intent on making the Grand Final and looking for some redemption over the loss to the Sea Eagles the week before.
Although the Swans tried hard, in the end they were no match for the well drilled and harder at the ball, running Hawks machine.
It is anticipated that conditions will be magnificent for the clash down at Harrup Park and both teams will have a full list to select from after training on Thursday night.
Coach of the Hawks David Johnstone said that his boys are very excited to have made the Grand Final and intend to give the Whitsunday side a great deal more respect than when they last met.
Although the Hawks lost the game and were very distraught afterward David now sees the loss as a positive, and has used it as a strong motivator for this next game.
David said he has 27 players in the squad to select the best side from and although some boys will miss out there is some solace in the fact that the Hawks reserves are also in the Grand Final, and so a few boys may still get to celebrate a win.
David also said that his boys will need to be hard at the ball for the entire four quarters, and that his selection committee will be studying the match ups very carefully, to counter the anticipated ins for the opposition.
However if all 22 players do their job he is confident of a win to the Hawks, especially after his side has had a couple of good hit outs and a win over the last few weeks.
Whitsunday Sea Eagles coach Troy Weller told me that he feels his team have benefited from the week off, with a couple of his players having had a few minor niggles.
The team are happy for the rest, notably their captain John Ryan who returns from a concussion.
The Sea Eagles also welcome the return of Denholm Brockley to the backline, and he feels his team are very set for the all-important ultimate game.
Troy did say that he too has a full squad to select from and that it will be hard to leave some boys out. He did go on to say that the spirit in which his players have taken to missing out has been fantastic and is a credit to all of his lads adding that if the team has a win, then the entire club celebrates.
Despite the outcome Troy said his team have had a good year and would like nothing more than to top it off with a win in the Grand Final which would also help attract players for next season.
Troy anticipates a great game and does realise that they are playing a formidable side in the Hawks and the team will need to be at their best to secure the win.
So that is it for the clash and your last chance to view some exciting football in season 2012.
The day starts off at Harrup Park at 8.00 am with the now famous Grand Final Breakfast, where special guest and former Brisbane Lions premiership player, Richard Champion will be the guest speaker.
The breakfast kicks off what is fast becoming a major sporting event at the local level here in Mackay, so get to the AFL footy on Saturday and watch the big men fly!
Live score updates for all these games can be followed on Twitter @AFLNorthQld
