A SLICE of history is on offer for both the Sandringham Dragons and Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels in this year’s Coates Talent League Grand Final. The Rebels haven’t been to the big dance since 1997, while the Dragons are chasing a third-straight flag. We preview Saturday’s clash.

NEED TO KNOW

What: 2024 Coates Talent League Grand Final
Who: Sandringham Dragons vs. GWV Rebels
Where: IKON Park, Carlton North
How to watch: Live stream via AFL website & Coates Talent League app

IN A NUTSHELL

Two sides with perfectly opposite home-and-away records meet in this year’s Coates Talent League Grand Final, having taken very different paths to the decider. Two-time reigning premier, Sandringham, has been dominant at full strength and boasts an enviable depth of top-end talent, while GWV has produced a remarkable postseason run after finishing 11th.

FUN FACTS

– Sandringham and GWV have not played against each other since Round 12, 2022.
– It has been 27 years since GWV made its last Grand Final, and won its sole premiership.
– Sandringham is aiming for an equal-high sixth premiership, and third consecutively.
– Levi Ashcroft has played in the last three Grand Finals, winning in 2022 & ’23.

FOOTBALL MATHS

The last side to defeat Sandringham in 2024 was Oakleigh, by 39 points in Round 19. GWV beat the Chargers in Round 18, and then again in last week’s preliminary final by a combined margin of 17 points. The two Grand Finalists are yet to meet in season 2024.

H&A RECORDS

Sandringham Dragons: 4th Overall | 2nd Metro | 10-5 | 123.92%
GWV Rebels: 11th Overall | 6th Country | 5-10 | 92.1%

LAST FIVE

Most recent first

Sandringham Dragons: WWWLW
GWV Rebels: WWWLW

WILDCARD

Sandringham Dragons 15.9 (99) def. Western Jets 3.5 (23)
GWV Rebels 4.13 (37) def. Tasmania Devils 5.4 (34)

QUARTER FINALS

Sandringham Dragons 17.14 (116) def. Calder Cannons 8.8 (56)
GWV Rebels 14.11 (95) def. Geelong Falcons 12.10 (82)

PRELIMINARY FINALS

Sandringham Dragons 14.10 (94) def. Dandenong Stingrays 6.7 (43)
GWV Rebels 10.10 (70) def. Oakleigh Chargers 8.18 (66)

SQUADS

Sandringham Dragons:

B: #15 L. Hofmann – #20 A. Cole – #8 O. Bater
HB: #27 X. Bamert – #6 H. Oliver – #33 M. Kirkwood-Scott
C: #52 A. Taylor – #22 M. Reid – #46 Z. Travers
HF: #75 J. Surkitt – #11 N. Sulzberger – #42 B. Seers
F: #47 L. Voss – #12 H. Armstrong – #31 B. McKenzie
FOL: #24 B. Findlay – #3 L. Ashcroft – #36 S. Marshall

INT: #1 O. Green, #45 L. Kennedy, #59 S. Linder, #61 S. Buck
23rd: #2 J. Dalton

EMG: #40 J. Cheep, #70 J. Mildenhall, #77 A. Butler

IN: S. Buck
OUT: A. Ludowyke

>> GF Feature: Team balance key to Dragons’ three-peat push

GWV Rebels:

B: #1 A. Taylor – #19 M. Lloyd – #41 N. Bennett
HB: #18 B. McGlade – #5 W. Rantall – #2 H. Charleson
C: #30 F. Molan – #3 R. Unwin – #34 S. Janetzki
HF: #10 H. Lawson – #16 H. Hicks – #31 T. Byrne
F: #20 F. Burmeister – #7 O. Hannaford – #8 J. Faull
FOL: #23 F. Penry – #6 J. Ough – #21 R. Mast

INT: #12 A. Caldow, #17 S. McDonald, #22 J. Grayland, #25 H. Toner
23rd: #40 D. Harten

EMG: #27 S. Burmeister, #33 C. Glenwright-McGuane, #36 B. Phillips

IN: D. Harten, S. Janetzki
OUT: C. Glenwright-McGuane, R. Holloway

>> GF Feature: Historic decider marks reward for Rebels’ effort

UNDER 18 CHAMPS REPRESENTATIVES

Sandringham Dragons (9): Samuel Marshall, Nathaniel Sulzberger (Allies), Harry Armstrong, Levi Ashcroft, Adrian Cole, Lennox Hofmann, Bailey McKenzie, Harrison Oliver, Murphy Reid (Vic Metro)
GWV Rebels (8): Floyd Burmesiter, Harry Charleson, Jonty Faull, Oliver Hannaford, Mitchell Lloyd, Jack Ough, Flynn Penry, Rhys Unwin (Vic Country)

DRAFT COMBINE INVITEES

Sandringham Dragons (11): Harry Armstrong, Levi Ashcroft, Adrian Cole, Samuel Marshall, Harrison Oliver, Murphy Reid (National), Lennox Hofmann, Luke Kennedy, Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott, Bailey McKenzie, Nathaniel Sulzberger (State)
GWV Rebels (7): Floyd Burmeister, Harry Charleson, Jonty Faull, Jack Ough, Rhys Unwin (National), Oliver Hannaford, Wil Rantall (State)

WHO’S MISSING?

Sandringham will be without a range of key personnel though injury. Top tall Luke Trainor remains in concussion protocols after copping a knock in the quarter finals, while midfielder-forward Taj Hotton has missed much of the year with an ACL tear.

Fellow National Draft Combine invitee Josh Dolan will also miss, along with state combine invitees Jhett Haeata (arm) and Charlie Rozenes (hamstring). Coach Rob Harding says the likes of Ted Clayton and Oscar Cheetham would have been considered if available.

Sandringham’s only change from the prelim is a swap of key forwards, with bottom-ager Archie Ludowyke making way for top-ager Sam Buck. Meanwhile, GWV has handed Dean Harten and Sam Janetzki Grand Final berths in place of Cooper Glenwright-McGuane and Riley Holloway.

While less stricken by injury at this point in the season, compared to their adversaries and earlier in the campaign, the Rebels lay claim to arguably the biggest omission in Sam Lalor. The powerful midfielder suffered a high grade hamstring injury in Wildcard Round.

AGE BREAKDOWN

Sandringham Dragons: Over-age (2) | Top-age (17) | Bottom-age (2) | U16 (1)
GWV Rebels: Top-age (17) | Bottom-age (6)

MARQUEE MATCHUP

Adrian Cole vs. Jonty Faull

The tall matchups in GWV’s forwardline and Sandringham’s defence could go one of a few ways, but Jonty Faull and Adrian Cole are the two heavyweights. Faull booted five goals last week, including three of GWV’s four in the first half. He’s a mobile, hard-working outlet.

His antithesis, Cole is athletic and strong, and has made a knack for shutting down dangerous forwards this year. Faull will be key to GWV kicking a winning score, especially given Sandringham’s firepower through midfield and at the other end of the ground.

WHERE IT’S WON

The midfield battle will play a key part in this game. Sandringham, a high-possession side, has looked near-untouchable at stoppages and prides itself on winning contests on repeat. GWV arguably has less top-end class on-ball, but boasts size and a strong pressure game.

Sandringham will also look to stretch the Rebels for height. The Rebels’ rucks – Flynn Penry and Floyd Burmeister – will have a job to drop back and support Mitchell Lloyd and Wil Rantall, who at 192cm are arguably undersized against the likes of Harry Armstrong and Lachlan Voss.

Either way, one thing that is for certain is GWV will give it everything for four quarters. Dimensions and conditions are a little different at IKON Park compared to recent venues, and these sides are yet to meet in 2024, so whoever can adjust quickest will get a good leg up.

PREDICTION

Sandringham has been here before, boasting a trio of premiership players to go with its premiership coach. The Rebels have had to go through the wringer just to qualify, travelling to Tasmania before knocking off the minor premier and a quality outfit in Oakleigh. The Dragons’ run has been comparatively less stressful, having an average winning margin of 62 points in the postseason. It’s an ominous sign, perhaps a three-peat is on the cards. Dragons by 25.