Reigning premier Boisdale Briagolong and Lakes Entrance will do battle for ultimate glory in the reserves competition of the East Gippsland Football Netball League this Saturday at Bairnsdale City Oval.
The sides have clearly been the best two teams in the competition this season, with the unbeaten Bombers having the wood on the Seagulls in their three meetings, victorious by 23, 56 and 34 points.
Lakes Entrance has seldom been challenged by the other six sides, losing only three matches for the campaign, all at the hands of the Bombers.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, with a number of late additions to the Bomber roster and player availability high at this time of year, the Bombers are likely to go in with their strongest lineup against the Seagulls for the season.
Regular senior players in 2026 Zak Harrigan, Shaquille Coridas, Matthew Roberts, Jy Higgins, Jack Davidson, Tyson Daly and Harry Swarski are all likely starters in a lineup that contains proven big-game performers Sam Bedggood, Nathan Sellings, Jarrad Nielsen, Ryan Peel and Luke and Danny Pratt.
The Seagulls are no slouches and also have plenty of handy players led by Brendan Bassett, coach Ben Rotheram, young gun Charlie Graham, the emerging Logan Brown, Sam East, Matt Duggan, Tyrone Hayes, century goalkicker Noah Bottom and pacy customers Charlie Goold, James Daly and Pat Halford.
Lakes Entrance will need to be at the top of its game if it is to be any chance, after only kicking one goal in the qualifying final.
The Seagulls will need to get off to a great start if they are any chance to cause a massive upset, as confident sides like the Bombers are seldom run down.
In an ideal scenario, the match would turn into a shootout between the competition’s two leading goalkickers, Luke Pratt (108) and Bottom (100), but that is unlikely as these matches usually become dour, low-scoring slogs that can be painful to watch, especially if the wind gets up at the Bairnsdale City Oval like it can.
That could be the Seagulls’ best chance to win.
