WILLIAMSTOWN Imperials and West Newport have secured free passes to the Williamstown and District Cricket Association’s showpiece event.
Instant qualification to the A1 turf grand final was granted to the top-two-ranked sides after their semi-final clashes were cancelled at the weekend due to Melbourne’s fickle weather.
Imps captain Glen Robson made no apologies for the way his team moved into the season decider, saying it was the right of the two best-placed teams to move into the season decider when rain hit the first weekend of finals.
“It’s why you finish first or second,” he said. “You want to take it out of the hands of the weather. I’ve been on the other side of it, too.”
It’s a tasty proposition with the best two sides over the course of the summer squaring off in the big one.
Their storylines could not be more contrasting. The Bevan Uren-coached Imps are seeking to break a 19-year drought with their first premiership since 1992-93. Wests, the champions of two seasons ago, are aiming to make amends for losing this corresponding game last summer.
Robson backs his team to the hilt. “We’ve got a good enough team balance and enough blokes in good form to give ourselves every opportunity. As a club, we might not have played off in a grand final for about 20 years, but we’ve got a very different side [to last season] with enough experience in big games.”
The Imps respect what their opponents have achieved in recent seasons. Wests have done what the Imps haven’t for a long time – and that’s climb to the top of the mountain.
They have long memories from last year’s loss to Newport-Digman in the grand final and will be desperate for a better result this time.
There will be a finals atmosphere around the Imps this week. They are calling on past players and supporters to get to the club on Thursday for a barbecue and team selection.
Robson says success in the grand final would extend to the wider Imps family.
“We’re pleased to be able to get this opportunity to play in a grand final,” he said. “We want to come out on top, not just for the 11 players. We feel like we’re representing the history of the club as well.”
WDCA GRAND FINALS
A1 turf: Williamstown Imperials v West Newport
A2 turf: Footscray ANA v Melton Centrals
B1 turf: Grand United v West Newport
B2 turf: Melton South v Melton Centrals
C composite: Grand United v Point Cook
A grade matting: Western All Stars v Melton Centrals
B grade matting: Tarneit v Melton Centrals
C grade matting: Wyndhamvale v Tarneit
One-day: Laverton v Grand United
