Hillside coach Steve Kolyniuk believes he has the players to
deliver the club’s first senior Essendon District Football League
premiership.
The Sharks will meet Moonee Valley in the division 2 grand final
at Windy Hill on Saturday after coming from behind to beat East Keilor
in the preliminary final at the weekend.
Hillside will start hot favourites after thumping Moonee Valley by 106 in the second semi final.
But Moonee Valley – the only team to beat Hillside this year, by
four points in round six – will be ready for the contest after a
remarkable fourth-quarter resurrection against East Keilor.
MATCH REPORT: Moonee Valley v East Keilor preliminary final
Moonee Valley trailed by 30 points at the last break after a scoreless second term saw the Cougars take control.
But the Valley booted 5.3 to zero in the final term to snatch a three-point victory.
Kolyniuk was at the game, assessing Hillside’s grand final opposition.
“I thought Moonee Valley injected some youth and pace and enthusiasm, and it paid dividends,” he said.
Hillside established a senior team in 2005 and is searching for
its first senior flag. The Sharks finished third last year, thwarted by
Moonee Valley in the preliminary final.
But this season they have been dominant, taking out the minor
premiership with 17 wins – five clear of Moonee Valley and East Keilor –
and a percentage of 317.
They have winners all over the ground.
The back six have been outstanding – Hillside has allowed just 783
points this year while no other team has conceded fewer than 1000.
The midfield has been peerless, and four of the
division’s top 15 goalkickers wear the black, white and blue. Paul
Edwards leads all-comers with 79.
Kolyniuk said his side trained normally during the week off and would be primed for the biggest day in the club’s short history.
“We had a session on Saturday and we’ll train as usual this week,”
he said. “Obviously we’re confident in the way we are playing and
there’s a lot of self-belief at the club.
“We’re confident we can do it. We have a few niggles but that’s no different to any other team at this time of year.
“We’ve played Moonee Valley three times so we know their game well
but they know ours as well. It’s going to come down to who wants it
more.”
Hillside has two other teams vying for grand finals on the day,
with the under-18s taking on East Keilor and the reserves playing Moonee
Valley.
“It’s a big day for the club, hopefully the under-18s start it off well,” Kolyniuk said.
