Reigning premier Langhorne Creek take on minor premier Willunga in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) Grand Final at McLaren Vale tomorrow. These two clubs have won 11 premierships between them since 2001 and this will be the seventh time they’ve met in the decider with the ledger set at three wins each.

Langhorne Creek won their way through to the Grand Final with a tough nine-point win in the second semi-final over Willunga. It was the 10th consecutive victory for the Hawks after they started the season slowly to have a 5-5 record after 10 rounds. The Demons bounced back from that loss to defeat Mount Compass by 20 points in the Preliminary Final last week after trailing by 32 points at half-time.

Willunga were ranked number one in defence during the minor round, conceding just 63 points per game while Langhorne Creek were ranked number two in attack, scoring 103 points per game. There are great match-ups all over the ground starting with the ruck duel where the Hawks’ James Sellar takes on the Demons’ Mail Medalist Daniel Bass. Whoever wins this battle will go a long way towards their side winning the flag. Both sides have dangerous forwards and they both have an even spread of goalkickers rather than relying on one or two players to kick them a winning score. Willunga have eight players with 20 goals or more this season with Scott Hunt leading the way with 30 majors. Langhorne Creek have six players with 20 or more majors with Jarrod Kellock on 46 their leading goalkicker. 

Both teams have excellent defenders with James Collier of Willunga and Tom Derham of Langhorne Creek having outstanding seasons. It could be a low scoring affair as it was in the second semi-final where just 18 goals were kicked but the Hawks do have an ‘X-factor’ and his name is Lachy McGregor. McGregor only played five games in the minor round where he kicked 15 goals. In the second semi-final he was the difference between the two teams kicking five goals and being named best on ground.

This game has all the ingredients to be an absolute classic. It’s a tough one to tip but I’m going for Langhorne Creek to go back-to-back and win a thriller by seven points to wrap up a great season.