REDAN’S senior side might have fallen at the preliminary final hurdle once again, but the Lions’ reserves look just as strong as ever.
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The maroon and gold will be vying for their fourth consecutive reserves premiership when it meets Melton on Saturday, undoubtedly going in as overwhelming favourites.
However, coach Tom Jess remains more than wary of a Melton side that is going in with every belief it can end the premiership streak.
The Lions will lose a raft of quality players that are no longer eligible due to the amount of senior matches they have played throughout the season.
They will lose Nick Willox, Liam Hunter, Jacob Short and Hayden Riley, while Tom Baker has been left out of the side.
Key forward Dan Colbert is the biggest inclusion, having only played a handful of senior games this year due to injury, despite his boundless ability.
Captain Tom Sarah has been recalled into the side, while Marty Robinson, Nick Barker and Geordie Lukich also come in.
“There were some tough calls to make at selection, it wasn’t easy,” said Jess, the second-year coach.
“Melton are sort of unknown to us, they would’ve changed a bit since last time and I’m expecting a better showing from them this time around.”
For Melton, Jamie Rawlings looms as the biggest inclusion.
Rawlings copped a four-match suspension in the Bloods’ round 17 seniors game against North City, with his ban expiring just in time for the season decider.
Bloods coach Shayne Simpson said Redan’s outstanding record of late posed no threat to his side.
“You can’t fear anything, it’s 22 on 22 once that first siren sounds,” he said.
“We’ve got nothing to lose going in. Our last 10 quarters have been great so we take a lot of confidence going into the match.”
Simpson said the fact Redan would be without a handful of their stronger players made no difference to his side’s approach.
“I tend to worry about what has been going on in our own backyard,” he said.
“Redan are so consistent, it really doesn’t matter who they bring in or out.”
The Lions have dominated the two meetings between the sides this year.
In round nine the maroon and gold won by 67 points, before backing it up with a 70-point drubbing in the qualifying final.
Redan earned the week off before the grand final with 57-point win over Sunbury, while Melton did it the hard way, progressing with consecutive 28-point wins over Darley and Sunbury.