Post by The Jack on Sept 2, 2011 19:14:05 GMT 10
Well we could have an interesting finals this season in both grades with much of the early coin probrably going with the top of the ladder. Heathmont have put on a display this season, as has Knox (1 loss is not a bad effort). But will they have it all their own way?
A Grade
Heathmont vs Research - Home ground advantage goes to... um... ok... so lets just look at the teams. McKay is a key here. If he is on, Research will win. He is capable of stitching up the best line ups in the league (and he will need to as Heathmont is one of them). He will be reliably backed up by Edwards and JD, so 9 innings should not be a problem here. If McKay can throw 7 + look out. Hitting, guys are swinging the bat well. Research went on a tear last season and probably were in the top two best performing teams in the last 7 games. They have what it takes. Heathmont have won this season by doing one thing - scoring runs. This has put pressure on opposition teams and that has probably changed their approach in the box (hence their low runs against tally). They have guys who can flat out hit the ball with Dingle, Rutgers, Gourlay, Mack .. I will stop there. What will happen if it becomes a close game though? These guys may turn to the fence to try and win the game which may allow McKay the in he needs. I have only seen one game decided by guys who were swinging for the fence and were able to put one out and that was a long time ago (Scott Neilis - not sure of spelling), although I have seen games lost by it. Game plan for Heathmont is simple, score runs and then score more. they wont care if they give up 6 runs if they score 15 themselves.
Prediction Research by 3
Greensborough vs Croydon - Easy pick for me here, I predicted Croydon as the 1 group of the top four who could potentially drop out of the finals race at the half way mark. At this stage they were second (just) and people probably thought I was crazy (again). Well, they just made it and I think they will struggle against Greens. Greens just have to decide who takes the hill, they hit the ball well and playing at their own ball park gives them at least a 3 run advantage. Nopt much more to say here other than if both these games to as I have predicted, the Prelim is going to be awesome!
Predication Greens by 7
B Grade
Knox vs Waverley - Look, lets be honest, everyone has already given the flag to Knox except the other teams in the finals. I think Knox probably wins this game, but they will have to be on their game for the GF as they showed last season that anything can happen. They have a number of 'guns' in the hitting lineup and with A Rice on the hill, they have a guy who can control the game. The problem for me is the next guy. Over 9 innings, does Leon take over? They may need a few cheap innings out of someone else. Again, their hitting is huge at this level and they may be able to score 15 runs themselves in the game, so Waverley will be up against it. Their hitting line up is not as strong when you line them up against Knox, Their pitching to me is not strong enough to hold off the Knox hitters. I think that they will go out in straight sets unfortunately for them, but they will probably be in amongst it next season.
Prediction Knox by 10 in 7
Westgarth vs La Trobe Uni - Uni have struggled over the last few weeks and are only in the finals because the 5th placed team performed just as badly. Westgarth look good for me and possibly have the side to challenge Knox should they make the GF. They Hit the ball well, run the bases hard andare solid in the field. When I look at the teams in the finals, Knox obviously stands out, but Westgarth is next for me. I would not be surprised to see them make a huge challenge to go up into A Grade next season. (There is a whole can of worms for relegation and promtions, FH tied with Watsonia, do they get another season up? Do they have a claim on staying up with a junior program running? If Knox wins can we hold them back? If they lose, can we hold them back? If Westgarth wins do they take the spot away from Knox?) It could be kind of funny if Knox were to lose their second game of the season in the GF to see what scenario will play out.
Prediction Westgartth by 6
There are some good matchups in the other finals games, it will be interesting to see how qualifications went with some clubs.
Good luck
A Grade
Heathmont vs Research - Home ground advantage goes to... um... ok... so lets just look at the teams. McKay is a key here. If he is on, Research will win. He is capable of stitching up the best line ups in the league (and he will need to as Heathmont is one of them). He will be reliably backed up by Edwards and JD, so 9 innings should not be a problem here. If McKay can throw 7 + look out. Hitting, guys are swinging the bat well. Research went on a tear last season and probably were in the top two best performing teams in the last 7 games. They have what it takes. Heathmont have won this season by doing one thing - scoring runs. This has put pressure on opposition teams and that has probably changed their approach in the box (hence their low runs against tally). They have guys who can flat out hit the ball with Dingle, Rutgers, Gourlay, Mack .. I will stop there. What will happen if it becomes a close game though? These guys may turn to the fence to try and win the game which may allow McKay the in he needs. I have only seen one game decided by guys who were swinging for the fence and were able to put one out and that was a long time ago (Scott Neilis - not sure of spelling), although I have seen games lost by it. Game plan for Heathmont is simple, score runs and then score more. they wont care if they give up 6 runs if they score 15 themselves.
Prediction Research by 3
Greensborough vs Croydon - Easy pick for me here, I predicted Croydon as the 1 group of the top four who could potentially drop out of the finals race at the half way mark. At this stage they were second (just) and people probably thought I was crazy (again). Well, they just made it and I think they will struggle against Greens. Greens just have to decide who takes the hill, they hit the ball well and playing at their own ball park gives them at least a 3 run advantage. Nopt much more to say here other than if both these games to as I have predicted, the Prelim is going to be awesome!
Predication Greens by 7
B Grade
Knox vs Waverley - Look, lets be honest, everyone has already given the flag to Knox except the other teams in the finals. I think Knox probably wins this game, but they will have to be on their game for the GF as they showed last season that anything can happen. They have a number of 'guns' in the hitting lineup and with A Rice on the hill, they have a guy who can control the game. The problem for me is the next guy. Over 9 innings, does Leon take over? They may need a few cheap innings out of someone else. Again, their hitting is huge at this level and they may be able to score 15 runs themselves in the game, so Waverley will be up against it. Their hitting line up is not as strong when you line them up against Knox, Their pitching to me is not strong enough to hold off the Knox hitters. I think that they will go out in straight sets unfortunately for them, but they will probably be in amongst it next season.
Prediction Knox by 10 in 7
Westgarth vs La Trobe Uni - Uni have struggled over the last few weeks and are only in the finals because the 5th placed team performed just as badly. Westgarth look good for me and possibly have the side to challenge Knox should they make the GF. They Hit the ball well, run the bases hard andare solid in the field. When I look at the teams in the finals, Knox obviously stands out, but Westgarth is next for me. I would not be surprised to see them make a huge challenge to go up into A Grade next season. (There is a whole can of worms for relegation and promtions, FH tied with Watsonia, do they get another season up? Do they have a claim on staying up with a junior program running? If Knox wins can we hold them back? If they lose, can we hold them back? If Westgarth wins do they take the spot away from Knox?) It could be kind of funny if Knox were to lose their second game of the season in the GF to see what scenario will play out.
Prediction Westgartth by 6
There are some good matchups in the other finals games, it will be interesting to see how qualifications went with some clubs.
Good luck
