Sport
5 September, 2025
Final series excites all
AFTER 19 rounds, the second ‘half’ of the season starts tonight when the final series for Footy in Paradise bounces off at Holloway’s Beach with the women’s elimination final, starting at 7.30pm.
The reigning premier Lions will have to do it the hard way to go back-to-back and win three on the bounce. They at least start at home, where they host the plucky finals first timers, the Crocs.
The season ledger sits at 2-1 in favour of the Lions, with the only game of the three played at ITEC group oval a thrashing to the tune of 83-0 in favour of the Lions.
They have been caught unaware by the Crocs before though. The Crocs’ two-point victory in round eight is the greatest win of their short history. That status will well and truly be topped should the Crocs steal this one as they chase a maiden finals victory in their first go round.
The first preliminary final fittingly sees the regular season’s best teams go head-to-head at Cazalys at 4.30pm tomorrow before the Hawks-Saints AFLW clash.
The minor premier Bulldogs lost only twice in a hugely impressive season, boosted by some big-name recruits. Those two losses however were against this weekend’s opponents, the grand finalists from last year in the Tigers.
In what is odds on a preview of the grand final (although, nothing is guaranteed at this time of year), who will secure a week off, and who will need to come through two prelims?
The season ledger sits at 2-2 and the Tigers lead the cumulative score 123-110, so there is barely anything separating these two great teams.
After a thrilling conclusion to the men’s regular season, in which the Hawks notched their first win since 2022 (congratulations), a dramatic final quarter of round 19 means that the Tigers will be hosting an elimination final, rather than travelling to Port for a prelim.
Plenty of tipsters would have picked a rematch of the 2024 grand final to open the finals, but perhaps not as the do-or-die clash.
The Cutters are favourites due to their reigning champ status, and lead the season 2-1, including a big ANZAC Day win at Watson’s.
Both teams had disappointing ends to their season and will be desperately fighting to live another day.
A must watch game as the standalone men’s game on Saturday before the women’s at Cazalys.
The Port juggernaut just keeps on rolling on as they will take a 13-game win streak into the finals as they chase a scarcely believable eighth title in 12 years. They have been untouchable since going 0-3 to start the season, and utterly dispatched the Cutters and the Tigers in their last two games of the season.
The team faced with ending this streak is the Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs who have exceeded all external expectations by claiming a very impressive second on the ladder and a vital double chance.
They were hugely impressive in their virtual elimination final against the Saints and enter this clash battle-hardened.
They will also enter the clash confident as they own the title as the last team to beat Port this season.
A Sunday blockbuster awaits.
