Flag bond drives Welsh

GFL GRAND FINAL

ST Mary’s captain Jacob Welsh says the bond he sees in the Saints’ 2004 and 2008 premiership sides as something he wants with this group.

The Saints have made their second straight grand final, but they have not won one since 2008, when Welsh was watching in the stands as a 16-yearold.

He does not remember a lot, but it is the lasting bond that has had an impact on the Saints junior.

“The massive margin and coming back here (club) and still kicking the footy around, and just looking at those older guys, like Benny Lavars,” Welsh said.

“That whole team was pretty impressive.

“(A premiership) will mean everything.

“For this group — reserves and seniors — it’s one big group of mates.

“Even now, seeing the premiership teams from ’04 and ’08 come back together and they’re still as tight as ever and getting around us.

“Hopefully we can do the same and have that same bond.”

Welsh, 25, said his side’s grand final appearance last year would hold them in better stead.

“Last year we were going in with not all the expectations of the world on us, but this year we’ve built our year around hoping to get there again,” he said. “I think everyone’s ready for it and we’re a lot more prepared this year.

“I think we’ve done things a little bit differently this year and everyone’s a lot fresher and ready to go.”

The first-year captain said his side had overcome the label of being an outside side.

“I think everyone just looks at us as an outside team with all the smaller, younger kids,” he said.

“I think the last two weeks going against two of the bigger sides — Bell Park and Joeys — we’ve matched them, if not got on top of them at stages.

“That’s been one of the big focuses.”

While Joeys changed up a few things in their preliminary final win, Welsh said his team would stick to the recipe that saw them hand St Joseph’s its first loss of the season.

“We had a look at them on the weekend and they made a few changes,” he said.

“We’ll probably stick to our guns and hopefully it works again.

“If we can match them in their strengths and can get our game going, then we should hopefully get the job done.”