NORTH Ballarat City veteran Marc Greig says it doesn’t take anything out of the ordinary to win a grand final.
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Instead, Greig says his side only needs to do what it has done all year in order to lift the Ballarat Football League premiership cup aloft.
North City will go in as hot favourites to win consecutive BFL grand finals on Saturday afternoon, clashing with Ballarat at Eastern Oval.
Greig, who will be aiming for his second premiership for North City, says his side does not need to approach the game any differently to what it has done all year.
The reigning premiers only dropped one home and away game all season before taking the direct path through to the grand final, winning finals against Redan and Ballarat.
They enter the match with a near full list to choose from and a week’s break in their legs, while Ballarat is sweating over the fitness of some key players.
At the age of 34 and with arguably the most experience out of anybody set to take to the field on Saturday, Greig said he welcomed the pressure of grand finals.
In addition to last year’s premiership, he also won three consecutive VFL premierships with North Ballarat in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
“To be honest there are not a great deal of nerves,” he told a BFL grand final press conference on Wednesday.
“Going back five or six years ago, there were lots of nerves leading into the finals but I know it doesn’t take anything special to win a grand final – we just have to do what we do for 20 rounds of the year.”
North City’s recent record over Ballarat is extremely one-sided.
The Northies have won their past five matches against the Swans by an average of 50 points.
However, Ballarat assistant coach and key onfield leader Adam Sewell said that would mean nothing on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans are hopeful star player Luke Brennan will return from a back injury that has kept him out for two weeks, while Chris Thornton is looming as another inclusion.
Ballarat’s last grand final was a loss to Lake Wendouree in 2010, following the dramatic 2008 premiership over Darley.
“This is what you play footy for – to play in grand finals and to win grand finals,” Sewell said.
“While it’s great to get there, the job is nowhere near done.
“It wouldn’t mean much if we didn’t come away with the win.”
The BFL grand final will start at 2.30pm on Saturday at the Eastern Oval, following the reserves battle between Bacchus Marsh and Redan.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
