North Geelong’s stunning rise from the depths of the ladder in 2023 to Geelong & District League grand finalists comes as no surprise for captain Zac Schwennesen, although he didn’t think it would be this rapid.
The Magpies find themselves in the grand final this Saturday against East Geelong with only a final-round win in 2023 avoiding a wooden spoon.
Last year, North finished outside the top five by a tiny amount of percentage and this year is on the verge of a first flag since 2013.
“When Ricco (coach Peter Riccardi) first come on, I thought he’d take us in a different direction,” Schwennesen said.
“But I didn’t think it’d happen as quickly as it has. It’s been a crazy shift to being that one-win team two years ago to now playing off in a grand final – it’s unreal.
“We’ve got to be proud of where we’re at as a club, for how far we’ve come so quickly.”
The Magpies prevailed in the second semi-final to book a direct path to the decider. They have beaten East Geelong all three times they have played them this season.
“We’re pretty evenly matched sides, in my viewing,” Schwennesen said.
“We’ve both got outlet runners that can run. We’ve got our inside players that play well. We’ve also got two big forwards running around that would love to get on the end of a few goals.
“I think we match up really well with each other, so it’s just about who comes out and plays their best footy at the end of the day, I think.”
North Geelong had a down patch from rounds 11 to 14, losing three from four. Rather than dwell on the losses, Schwennesen said the Pies looked at them from a learning perspective. The team’s form has improved towards the back end of the season.
“Just sticking to what we know works, I think,” Schwennesen said.
“We looked at it as if it was all learning curves rather than a lull in the season. Every time we had a tough loss we hit the review pretty hard on the Tuesday night and came up with everything we could to not let it happen again.
“So since then, we’ve just been working on the things that work best for us at training and implementing them on a Saturday.”
East Geelong skipper John McIntyre said his side was ready to go.
“I think our strength is probably our backline is rock solid,” he said.
“But in saying that, if we don’t pressure the ball up the ground and they’re able to kick it in with no pressure, I mean they’re going to struggle to hold them to a low score.
“So I think we’re going to have to be better in the midfield than what we have been against them.”
While the Eagles are no strangers to finals footy, McIntyre said that was no advantage on Saturday. East’s last premiership came back in 2009.
“I think after the first 10 minutes the sting sort of goes out of the game a little bit and it just falls back a general standard game,” he said.
“I thought maybe that could have helped us when we played North the first time because they hadn’t played finals in a while and they came out beat us. I can’t see it being a major factor.”
Big forward Zac Smith responded from a goalless second semi-final to boot six in the prelim.
“It was good to see him get on the end of a few,” McIntyre said.
“I reckon he was robbed of a couple as well so he probably should have had at least seven on board, but six is a bloody good return in a final.
“It’s good to see him bounce back after a performance he’s probably disappointed with against North.”
While the Eagles will go in as slight underdogs, McIntyre said both sides matched up evenly.
“I think last time we played them, both teams had enough momentum to probably win the game,” he said.
“They just took their chances when they had them and we weren’t able to come back. If we can capitalise on our moments, I think we’re every chance.”
GRAND FINALS
Saturday September 20, St Albans Reserve
Seniors: North Geelong vs East Geelong, 2.15pm
Reserves: East Geelong vs Werribee Centrals, 11.45am
Under 18 Division 3: South Barwon vs Torquay, 9.30am
