Magpies hot favourites
Wickliffe-lake Bolac certainly turned out to be the Mininera and District Football League powerhouse it claimed to be throughout the preseason.
Coming off back-to-back losses in the past two grand finals – to Tatyoon in 2016 and Lismore-derrinallum, 2017 – the Magpies were keen to not have that happen again and recruited with that in mind.
Since round one, when the Magpies had a 44-point win over Lismore-derrinallum in a grand-final rematch, the side has continued to have a strong season.
The side has won every game by an average margin of just under 95 points, their biggest win coming in round nine to the tune of 177 points over Caramut.
Wickliffe-lake Bolac has taken no prisoners throughout the season, convincingly beating teams whether they were second on the ladder or 12th.
It has had 12 wins by 10 goals or more, six of them blowing out by more than 100 points.
The Magpies boast a talented line-up of players with plenty of depth.
Throughout the season it has not mattered if they have had a player out with injury or unavailability. They just replace them with another player who is just as good.
Three-time league best and fairest Brad Keilar will play a massive role in the finals series, in the ruck.
His height and work rate are tough for any team to match.
Another is William Slattery who has kicked an impressive 75 goals for the season with an average of 4.69.
Of the 16 games he played this season he has managed to kick five goals or more nine times.
Bailey Veale, a fast and skilful midfielder, has featured in the Magpies’ best 10 out of 13 games.
Having him team up with the likes of Tas Clingan, Scott Day and Harley Hunter, with Thomas Gibson, Michael Otto and Chris Thornton coming off the half back line, all who featured regularly in the best for the Pies, they boast a very talented line-up.
With all these players and more being fit and in good form it is hard to imagine that anyone will be able to come close to this outfit.
However, the ghosts from the past two grand finals will still surely be in the back of the Magpies’ minds.