Geelong Advertiser |
NATHAN Martin understands the enormity of the task that confronts Grovedale this weekend.
And the Tigers' skipper knows it will need four quarters of brilliance to stop a powerhouse in South Barwon from clinching an eighth flag in 14 years.
However, an eight-goal final-term blitz of grand finalist Bell Park has Martin and his Grovedale teammates daring to dream.
"We definitely take some confidence out of that," Martin said of the Tigers' resurgence in last week's preliminary final.
"We've had belief all year that we finish games well. When we've been challenged we've fought back and it's a credit to the guys that all year they do respond and they don't just fall away.
"We know we need four quarters of how we finished last week. We've got to make sure that we come switched on on Saturday."
Grovedale is the feel-good story of the GFL season, coming from wooden spooners to grand finalists in a season.
The Tigers were the only side to have beaten South Barwon this season, winning by 20 points in Round 13.
But the Swans exacted revenge in the second semi-final with a 35-point victory.
The reigning premiers have an enormous advantage in the grand final stakes but Martin believes the "great unknown" could work in his team's favour.
"I probably think it's a good thing," Martin said.
"The blokes hopefully got over the nerves in the first week - a few blokes were nervous for the very first game - but speaking to the boys, they seem to be pretty good the last two weeks. Hopefully we've got no fear because we haven't been there before.
"We've been underdogs all year, we're happy with that. I don't think it matters.
"It's inside both clubs how you treat the game. It doesn't really matter what the outside says, it's how you feel inside the club."
Swans coach Anthony Biemans doesn't believe his side's wealth of finals experience will be a major factor.
"It's great opportunity for Grovedale to come out here, and a great result for them, but every year's different," Biemans said.
"They're a quality opposition. You've got to play the right way and if you don't, they taught us that (lesson) during the season.
"We need to make sure we play the right way to beat them otherwise we'll get done on the day."
Martin said while a grand final berth was a fantastic achievement for the club, he reinforced that his players were not content to be runners up.
"We'd like to think we're not just making up the numbers. At the start of the year, yeah definitely, we would've been happy just to make the finals but now they we've made the granny we want to go all the way," he said.