Many spectators had predicted this Mid Gippsland grand final fixture from day one, with Newborough tipped as flag favourites before it had played its first game of the 2012 season.
Similarly Trafalgar was a safe bet to play on the big day after its shock loss to Boolarra in the 2011 grand final.
Spectators could not ask for a better setup after the Bloods’ and Dogs’ three encounters this season have been exciting to watch.
In all three the Bloods have led at three-quarter-time, but have been unable to finish off the match.
Trafalgar coach Chris Kyriacou knows this and said playing four quarters of good football would be the key to winning this weekend.
“We think if we can bring four quarters this week, we’ll be very hard to beat,” Kyriacou said.
Kyriacou said his side had learned from the times they had played against Newborough and worked on the things that went wrong.
Newborough coach Allan Chandler said winning past games against Trafalgar gave them no edge as it all came down to this Saturday.
“I think it doesn’t matter what’s happened during the season because it’s all down to one game and two hours,” Chandler said.
“Whoever can put their body on the line the hardest and wants to work harder for it will probably come out victors.”
Compared to Trafalgar, which will play in its fifth consecutive grand final, there is not a lot of finals experience at Newborough.
“There’s three players that played in the 2003 premiership; Darryl Disisto, Matt Disisto and James Todd,” Chandler said.
However, Newborough is favoured to come home with at least one premiership trophy as the Dogs will be represented in all four football grades this weekend and four netball matches.
