The countdown is on to the 2010 Alanic Victorian Premier League Grand Final, following a fantastic 2010 home and away season and Finals Series.

This year has been one of the most exciting Alanic VPL seasons in recent history, and on Saturday, the Green Gully Cavaliers and Richmond will make history when they step out on to AAMI Park’s magnificent pitch for one last shot at glory.

Both teams have had their fair share of bumps along the road to the Grand Final, but overall Richmond has proved to be the more consistent performers in 2010.

Richmond started out the season with little expectations, simply hoping to avoid relegation, and maybe sneak into the finals. Much of the credit for their brilliant year has to go to the 2010 Alanic VPL Coach of the Year, Michael Chatzitrifonos, who, at the beginning of the year made the decision to play their young players to help their development. It proved to be a masterstroke. In a year that was so close that eight teams were still in with a chance to make the finals heading in to round 22, their youthful exuberance and skill saw them finish on top of the Alanic VPL table, ahead of Hume City and Green Gully.

Green Gully had a mediocre start to the season, and they quickly reshuffled their coaching structure to try to get their season back on track. They replaced Peter Ollerton with assistant Paul Harris, and brought in former coach Ian Dobson as the Technical Director.

“It was a bit disruptive from a coaches and player perspective, but from a coaching point of view credit must go to firstly Peter Ollerton for bringing the side together, and then to Ian Dobson when he came in as Technical Director,” Green Gully coach, Paul Harris said.

Harris said their lowest point of the season was after their 3-1 loss to Altona Magic at Green Gully Reserve.

“After Round 5 we got beaten by Altona Magic and I said to the players that it won’t ever be as bad as the feeling you’ve got right now.”

During the mid-season registration period they acquired a number of new players to the team, and since then they haven’t looked back, winning consecutive matches to see them earn their third place on the ladder. This was all despite a number of injuries and key players leaving the club along the way.

Green Gully’s road to the Grand Final has been somewhat of a fairytale. In week one of the Finals Series they defeated Hume City in the Qualifying Final 3-1, and they then defeated Richmond in the Major Semi Final, 2-1, at Richmond’s home ground, Kevin Bartlett Reserve.

Thanks to their Minor Premiership, Richmond had the first week of the Finals Series off, but the break didn’t do them any favours, and they were beaten by Green Gully. But they returned to their usual attacking best and defeated Hume City 2-1, in trying conditions at Knights Stadium.

Harris said his players are excited and looking forward to running around on AAMI Park on Saturday night.

“Definitely the two players at Gold Medal Night, Andy Vargas and Graham Hockless, who are good ball players, are really looking forward to being able to get out on that ground,” he said.
Harris said the final team selection won’t be decided until Friday night.

“I don’t think we’ll make a decision until tomorrow night, and we’ll go over a few set pieces.”

Green Gully has the edge over Richmond this year, winning 1–3 in Round 2, losing 1-2 in Round 13, and finally winning the Major Semi Final 1–2 a couple of weeks ago.

“Having beaten them at their place we’ve got a slight psychological advantage, having said that sometimes these thing work against you because they’ll be trying to get retribution,” Harris said.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for Richmond, they’re a better organised team than what a lot of people give them credit for.”

Harris said experience was only a small part of the equation on Grand Final day, and it all comes down to how the team performs on the day.

“Experience is a wonderful thing, but the thing with a Grand Final is that whether you’re young or old it goes quickly, it’s quite a surreal day, it’s over before you know it. Players like Fleming, Vargas, Jones and even Ryan Ollerton have been there and done that before, but at the end of the day, it’s all about how you play on the day.”

Richmond appealed Antun Kovacic’s red card from the Preliminary Final against Hume City, and he is now free to play in the Alanic VPL Grand Final after he was found not guilty at Wednesday night’s Independent Tribunal hearing.

Richmond coach Michael Chatzitrifonos said his players are enjoying being involved in the Grand Final process.

“You don’t get into these situations very often. We trained last night and all the players are soaking it up, they’re excited to be a part of it,” he said.

This is Chatzitrifonos’ first Grand Final as a coach, and he said he is not nervous yet, but it will be a different story on Saturday. Chatzitrifonos said he has learnt from the mistakes that were made in the loss to Green Gully in the Major Semi Final.

“I normally pick the best team that I feel can do the job for the Richmond Eagles on the day, very rarely do I pick the team for the opposition. One thing I did learn from that match is that I probably spent too much time worrying about Green Gully, and that just didn’t suit the way we play.”

Chatzitrifonos believes having a young inexperienced team in the finals can have its advantages, and hopes their youthful enthusiasm will get them over the line.

“It’s to our advantage (having young players), certainly by our training during the week there’s no signs of any nerves or trepidation with our young players, I’m sure on the park you’ll need your experienced players to take control though.

“What happens with a young team is they’re not daunted by the occasion, they’re so excited and looking forward to it that they don’t’ become overwhelmed by the day. We feel that with the team that we have, the energy the players provide, and with the wide spaces of AAMI Stadium, it will come to our advantage,” he said.

“We’re just delighted to be playing in the Grand Final and to be a part of it all. We’ll be showing them due respect, but either way, regardless of the result our club is very proud to be a part of it.”

Who is more deserving? The team who has been the most consistent performer all season and finished on top of the Alanic Victorian Premier League ladder? Or the side that fought back from adversity and turned their season around, winning both their finals matches to date? One thing’s for sure, there will be heartbreak for whoever comes up short on Saturday night, but both coaches agree the winner will be the team that plays the better football on the day.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this historic occasion, as the Alanic Victorian Premier League is taken to Melbourne’s new football stadium, AAMI Park. Please click here to get your discounted pre-purchased tickets.

Alanic Victorian Premier League Grand Final - Green Gully Cavaliers versus Richmond
AAMI Park, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne
Saturday 11th September, kick off 7pm

Women’s Premier League - Box Hill Inter versus Heidelberg United
AAMI Park, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne
Saturday 11th September, kick off 3pm

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