Half of the team that represented the VFL in the clash with the SANFL back in April during AFL Gather Round came from the two clubs - Werribee and Southport – who will meet in the 2024 Smithy's VFL Grand Final.
Werribee and Southport have been two of the best-performed teams in the VFL competition not just in 2024 but in recent years.
The Tigers went down to the Gold Coast Suns in the 2023 Grand Final while the Sharks fell short in the 2022 decider against Casey Demons, meaning the last two runners-up will go at it for the ultimate glory in 2024.
The strength of both clubs was on show with 12 players across both teams selected to wear the Big V against the SANFL at Glenelg on April 6.
Werribee was represented by Dom Brew, Nathan Cooper, Kye Declase, Hudson Garoni, Nick Hayes and Jack Henderson, while Louis Pinnuck was also in the final squad and travelled to Adelaide, but was a late due to injury.
Southport had Brayden Crossley, Jacob Dawson, Hugh Dixon, Ben Jepson and Boyd Woodcock wearing the Big V, while head coach Steve Daniel served as an assistant to Zane Littlejohn.
Werribee's inspirational midfielder and leader Brew captained the VFL that day, while Southport star Woodcock was awarded the VFL’s best player medal as selected by the SANFL coaching staff.
All from that group will take the field in Sunday’s premiership decider, with the exception of Werribee's Declase, who stepped away from the club mid-season.
It's one reason why it promises to be a memorable Grand Final with so much highly-regarded talent on show.
Last year's Grand Final was a critical moment in the career of Shaun Mannagh, who kicked six goals for the Tigers in an outstanding display that earned him best-afield honours, despite the loss to the Suns.
Mannagh will line up for Geelong in an AFL preliminary final this Saturday and will present the Norm Goss Medal to the player adjudged best afield in this year’s Smithy’s VFL Grand Final on Sunday.
Sam Clohesy also represented Werribee last year and just completed an excellent first season for the Suns at the top level, so the VFL is a proven breeding ground for AFL talent and there is likely to be a number of players being watched closely by AFL recruiters in the premiership decider.
It's the first time since AFL-aligned clubs and their listed players first competed in the VFL competition in 2000 that two standalone clubs with no AFL listed players will contest the final match of the season for the flag.
Werribee, established in 1960, has won one VFA/VFL premiership in its 64-year history, which came in 1993.
Southport, meanwhile, for a long time a powerhouse of Queensland football, entered the VFL competition in 2021 when northern states clubs joined after competing in the NEAFL, and will have contested two VFL Grand Finals in three completed seasons.
2024 SMITHY'S VFL GRAND FINAL
Werribee (1st) vs Southport Sharks (5th)
Sunday, September 22
3:10pm AEST
IKON Park
Broadcast: The 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 in Victoria and 7plus nationally. The match will also be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
Ticketing: For the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free. Tickets can be purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl from midday on Tuesday, September 17. Patrons purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is card only.
Teams: Click here to view the selected teams for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final
