Geelong Advertiser | BELL Post Hill coach Brent Grgic has urged players to embrace grand final week as it eyes another GDFL premiership.
As the spotlight beams on Panthers and North Geelong ahead of a third-successive big dance, Grgic said his side’s preparation will be the “same as usual”.
“We train like normal — Tuesday, Thursday — but there’s the natural hype and excitement of playing in a grand final,” he said.
“You just have to try and keep everyone level headed and concentrating on the tasks at hand.
“But you’ve got to let them be excited as well. You want them to enjoy it. There’s no point smacking them around the ears and putting them down.
“They’ve got to be up for the weekend.”
The Panthers had a “standard” training session on Saturday as it rested up and prepared for the Magpies, who thrashed Inverleigh in the preliminary final.
“We’ve tried a few different scenarios over the last few years and the best theory seems to be having a hit out on Saturday, nothing too full one, but keep the legs ticking over,” Grgic said.
“It’s just worked before. I don’t think there’s any real science to it.”
Bell Post Hill celebrates last year’s premiership. Picture: ANDY BROWNBILL Source: News Corp Australia
Grgic said the feeling amongst the playing group was extremely positive as they bid for a fifth flag in six years.
“We’ve got a few new guys in the team that haven’t played finals before and you can tell that they are really excited,” he said.
“Everyone’s excited because playing in a grand final is what everyone wants to achieve at the start of the year. They’re all jumping out of their skins.”
Rhys Burke and Jake Barlow will play in their first senior grand final, while Will Kelly has had limited finals experience.
“There’s a few guys in their second year as well. Ash Witney, Renn Lovitt and Daniel Walve are all having their second crack at it,” Grgic said.
“And even the boys who have been part of it before are excited like it is their first one as well.”
Grgic watched the Magpies dismantle Inverleigh at St Albans Reserve and admitted North Geelong’s premiership odds had shortened on the back of a complete performance.
North Geelong's Daniel Kee. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT Source: News Corp Australia
“Before North’s game on Saturday we would’ve been favourites, but after their performance against Inverleigh I think people might change their thoughts on that,” Grgic said.
“They’re young and pretty dangerous. They’ve got some highly skilled youngsters and their top-line players are as good as any club and they’re definitely as good as top four or five players.
“If the likes of (Luke) Parker, (James) Chandler, (Daniel) Kee, (Jamie) Pitman, (Derek) Fitzsimmons and (Steve) Richert get a hold of you like they did against Inverleigh, then they are pretty hard to beat.”
Grgic believes the Panthers’ biggest weapon is their evenness across the board.
“We probably don’t have as many standouts as North Geelong, but we’re pretty even,” he said.
“We’ve been together for a long time and we know how each other play. It’s hard to pick best players when we win, it’s always a good even mix.
“And if we’ve all on, I think we’ll go all right. If we only have a handful of players contribute then we’ll get done.”
