Greg Hay says there is a similar feeling at Sunbury as there was in 2012 when the Lions last captured a Ballarat Football League premiership.
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“There’s a really good vibe,” the 22-year-old onballer said as the countdown continued to Saturday’s grand final against Bacchus Marsh at the Eastern Oval.
Hay is one of four premiership players from four years ago who will line up in the decider.
“We just knew we were going win the flag that year.”
He said he had that same feeling again.
“It’s all come together in the build up.”
Hay believes the game will go the way of the team most prepared to take a risk and take the game on – something Sunbury has the confidence to do.
Hay is part of a onball/midfield group which with the addition of the classy Alik Magin has taken its game to a new level this season.
He said midfield coach Leigh Coles had driven the development to get the Lions engine room to where it was – a vital cog in reaching the grand final.
Hay said the players in this group had a great understanding with each other. “We know what to expect.”
While still young, Hay has happily taken on a leadership to help ensure Sunbury gets the best out of itself.
In doing so Hay has played an integral part in the rebuilding of Sunbury under coach Rick Horwood – a phase which began after half its 2013 grand final-losing team packed their bags and left.
Given Horwood had just a year earlier led the Lions to a flag, it was one of the biggest challenges of his coaching career.
Horwood hailed 2014 and 2015 finals campaigns as successes and to be back in with a chance of getting Sunbury its sixth BFL premiership has exceeded the expectations – especially given it had to leapfrog better performed Lake Wendouree to get there.
If Horwood is to lead Sunbury to a second flag in his reign it will be imperative that not only his highly acclaimed midfield shines, but that the Lions shut down Bacchus Marsh’s three musketeers in attack – Damian Cupido, Jarrah Maksymow and Cam Richardson.
Cupido and Maksymow have been two of the best recruits of the BFL season, but this might just be the moment Richardson has been waiting for to produce something special.
2016 FACT FILES
BACCHUS MARSH
POSITION: second
12 wins – 4 losses
QUALIFYING FINAL
Bacchus Marsh 13.13 (91) d Lake Wendouree 7.8 (50)
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
Bacchus Marsh 21.12 (138) d Sunbury 14.6 (90)
SUNBURY
POSITION: third
12 wins – 4 losses
ELIMINATION FINAL
Sunbury 12.11 (83) d Darley 7.11 (53)
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
Bacchus Marsh 21.12 (138) d Sunbury 14.6 (90)
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Sunbury 14.22 (106) d Lake Wendouree 9.14 (68)