{"id":223038,"date":"2026-09-18T10:50:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T00:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=223038"},"modified":"2026-09-18T10:50:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T00:50:08","slug":"power-prepared-to-express-themselves-in-big-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/09\/18\/power-prepared-to-express-themselves-in-big-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Power prepared to express themselves in big dance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOOTBALL is often about expression, and for Gippsland Power, that remains the case as the club chases its second-ever premiership on Saturday. In a largely results-based sport, success in the upcoming Grand Final takes on a slightly different meaning according to Regional Talent Lead Scott McDougal<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For us it’s just the boys being able to express themselves out there, making sure that they take the chance to put speed on the footy and play an exciting brand of footy,” he said. “It’s just about us putting our kids in a position to compete and show what [footy] means to them. From that, the result will come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’re a process-driven organisation. “Everything we do is around the process of getting the kids better, the process of making good decisions at the time, and then having a \u2018so what, now what\u2019 philosophy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having previously served as an assistant coach with the Power, McDougal’s footballing philosophies aren’t being lost on Gippsland’s current crop ahead of the biggest game in many of their young careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You play the game, you don’t play the occasion,” he said. “That’s our focus. “We just want to make sure that the boys go out there in the right mindset. “They’ve prepared well, they’ve earned their opportunity… and you reap what you sow. “You get what you earn.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boasting a squad brimming with talent throughout the age groups, Gippsland’s unique regional quirks have aided the development of younger players. In the top-age bracket are experienced leaders and match-winners, while the bottom-agers bring exuberance and growth in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our mix between bottom-age excitement and top-age maturity on each line, I’m really wrapped with how they\u2019ve done,” McDougal said. “It bodes well for the future, but also it’s good just to have those layers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’re the second biggest region in the Talent League with the smallest population, so we lean on our bottom-age kids a little bit more than most from a talent pool perspective. “But what we find is those extra few games they get as a bottom-age unit actually sets them up for their top-age year really well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the Power’s top prospects this year featured heavily in their run to the 2025 preliminary finals, where they went down to Sandringham by 10 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We hit the post three times that day, so we were a bit unlucky as well,” McDougal recounts about the bout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But fast-forward to this year, and that experience helped Gippsland’s group get the better of the Dragons in a thrilling rematch to qualify for the grand final. All the big names who featured in both games are “built” for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think Cody Templeton<\/a> is built for big games, [also] Marlon Neocleous<\/a> and Judd Burgiel<\/a>,” McDougal said. “I think those three will have a big say in how the day plays out for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Behind the ball we’ve got some great leadership with Clancy Snell<\/a> and Xavier Ladbrook<\/a>, and some really exciting bottom-agers in Henry Allsop<\/a>, Charlie Fischer<\/a> and Jimmy Little<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also among the exciting bottom-agers is Oscar Henwood<\/a>, who returns to the side on the back of a mandatory concussion layoff. Although, with every comeback story is a player who goes the other way like forward Ash Mounsey<\/a>, who injured his hamstring late in the third quarter of the prelim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Mounsey’s absence will “leave a hole”, McDougal lauded the depth of his squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In every final side that I’ve ever seen there’s always some unlucky soldiers,” he said. “You could pick the side three different ways and you’d stay very strong\u2026 but we’re as close to full strength that we could be.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for a word on the opposition, “respect” was the overarching theme between the two neighbouring regions who work closely behind the scenes and together in the Vic Country setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We really respect what Dandenong do,” McDougal said. “Our matches are always really competitive against each other as we neighbour each other, but our support for each other is very high too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’ll let the boys decide the outcome on the game day. Their competitiveness and their ability to play to plans will decide the outcome of the game.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both regions head into the clash chasing their second premiership, with the good omen for Gippsland being their first came against the Stingrays back in 2005. This will be the first all-Country decider since 2008, where Steele Sidebottom<\/em><\/strong> put his name in lights with 10 goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who will make a name for themselves on Saturday?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> FEATURE: <\/strong>Confident Stingrays crop ready for a shot at glory<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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