The Ballarat school comfortably accounted for MLC in the 2014 final, holding the Melbourne school scoreless as it claimed its first state division one shield. 

However MLC was able to turn the tables in the rematch last year, taking out its maiden title at Etihad Stadium by three points.

The victor of the clash at Craigeburn on the weekend will equal Hallam Senior College as the most successful school in the competition’s five-year history.

Grammar stormed into the 2016 final with a clear 45-point victory over Maribyrnong Secondary College a fortnight ago, while MLC was equally impressive in its semi-final success.

Now in his fifth year at the helm of the school’s football program, Grammar coach Matt Hanlon said his charges were looking forward to again facing off against their old foes.

“It’s always a really good, honest battle with them,” Hanlon said.  “The chances of the same two schools meeting this many times is pretty slim.”  

Grammar’s starting line-up is riddled with athletes from both football and non-football backgrounds.  Eureka Strikers player Nat Barbara has applied her soccer skills to the oval ball, while captain and state league netballer Rene Caris has made the switch from the court to the turf at Grammar.

Hanlon said the recruitment of talented athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds in addition to more experienced footballers had greatly improved the quality of both the side, with the school now boasting more-than 100 female footballers.   

“The scores almost don’t indicate it, but it’s a lot more even now,” Hanlon said.  “Beforehand it was probably a handful of players from each of the schools who could play and the rest were filling the numbers, but now there’s 18 girls out there who are competing and are good.”  

Now in her third year representing Grammar, Caris said the quality of the competition had improved dramatically during her time in the side.  

“The way the standard has gone up is amazing,” Caris said.  “The game’s just really picked up its pace in the girls competition.”