Sunday grand final

by LES EVERETT

WA Sunday Football League grand final day has become familiar for Thornlie coach Garry Fuller but this year there's a subtle difference.

This time the Lions will not go in as favourites.

Thornlie may have dominated the qualifying rounds but Maddington has emerged from the lead up finals as the competition's powerhouse team.

Favouritism, of course, is simply about the perceptions and expectations of others. Both teams will go into this game believing they can win and desperate to do so.

The events of the past two seasons mean the Lions simply can't have the "nothing-to-lose" attitude of the normal grand final underdog. A third consecutive grand final loss would be difficult to bear.

A feature of the 2003 season up until the finals started was the incredible closeness of the top three teams. Little separated them and last week's two point preliminary final win by Thornlie over Kenwick was a case in point.

However Maddington served notice of a whole new order by thrashing Kenwick by 117 points in the qualifying final and stitching up Thornlie by 39 points in the second semi.

The Bulls have a neat combination of toughness, flair and experience which coach Darren Rigby has brought to its peak at the right time of the year.

The Lions have walked away devastated on the past two grand final days but they have at least been there before. That experience could be invaluable.

We could be in for a great grand final.

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