Reds and Melville set to meet in second-straight decider

The two benchmark sides of the Premier League Men’s competition in recent times are set to meet again in this year’s Grand Final.

Minor premiers Melville will play league runners-up Reds on September 17 at 5:45 pm at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University in a highly anticipated decider.

The clash will be the second straight grand final between the two sides and has big shoes to fill following a thrilling match in 2021 where Melville’s James Day scored a late winner to see his side win 1-0 and end their Premier League title drought.

The two sides last met in a semi final less than a fortnight ago where it was Reds’ Jack Hayes who became the hero and lifted his side to a 1-0 victory with a goal in the final quarter.

Melville captain Tim Geers said he expects another close contest in Saturday’s decider.

“I am looking forward to another tough contest against Reds,” he said.

“Our last five games have all been separated by just one goal, so I expect it is going to be another tough arm wrestle.

“I think our styles when we play against each other are quite fascinating because we like to press and win the ball high up the field, and they like to sink numbers back, win the ball and counter.

“It sets up for a really tactical affair.”

Reds have won two of the last four Premier Leagues titles after a shock victory in 2018 where they defied the odds to claim the title from fifth on the ladder.

Young gun Brodee Foster – who played in the 2018 and 2020 titles – said he and his team had great respect for the minor premiers.

“They are a very good side, they are well drilled,” he said.

“They are a great defensive side and have conceded the least amount of goals this year.

“Having Andrew Charter in the net – Australia’s best goalkeeper – he is bound to be hard to score against.

“Even without him throughout the year they have conceded the least goals, so they are very well drilled defensively.

“We have both been there or thereabouts for the last couple of years or so.

“To win we have to beat the best, we are not too phased about who we have to play, we have a job to do.”

The 20-year-old striker, who finished runner-up in the year’s scoring tally with 31 goals, said the side that wins this weekend will be the team who best takes their chances and does not let the pressure get to them.

“I definitely expect it to be low scoring, and I think there will be one or two moments that win the game,” he said.

“The crowd ride every emotion with you and it is really cool to have two really big supporter bases there in us and Melville.

“Last year was one of the best atmospheres, it is pretty deafening, you can’t really hear too much.

“It is definitely an atmosphere that I live for, and it doesn’t come around too often in hockey, so it is pretty surreal.”

Reigning premiers Melville have been pushed to their limits throughout this finals series and scraped through to the Grand Final following a 3-2 extra-time victory over Hale after their loss in the Semi Final against Reds.

But Geers is not phased by the alternate route his team has taken to the decider and said he believed it may even help them to be extra ready come Saturday.

“I think having a tough game like that in the last game before the grand final will actually help us,” he said.

“Finishing on top can sometimes be a hindrance in finals series because if they win their first game they can go into the grand final having played one game in three weeks.

“I think we are battled hardened from the game against Reds last week and take great confidence following the win against Hale.”

The 28-year-old said despite the experienced lineup of Reds and the recent loss to them, his side had no doubt they could come out on top again.

“We have proven throughout the course of the year we are the best defensive outfit and I would expect they are not far behind us,” he said.

“They have some serious firepower – Aran Zalewski, Aaron Kleinschmidt, Jack Hayes just to name a few – but we have some pretty good players too.

“It is two quality sides, we are a pretty professional outfit in terms of being able to respond.

“It is a group that has taken many years to mature and get to where we are, and I think their group is pretty similar.

“They have some weapons absolutely, but we also have some weapons they need to be wary of, and it sets up to be a really exciting game.”

Push back at the Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University will be at 5:45 pm on Saturday.

The 2022 Hockey WA Grand Final Day, presented by Brightside Live, is set to sizzle on Saturday 17 September at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, with fun, games and engagement for all ages, on and off the field.