Blues back to basics for grand final showdown against the Bombers
The 2022 Hinterland Blues senior men's team plays Alexandra Hills Bombers in the Grand Final on Saturday at Hickey Park, Wilston Grange.
Centre half forward Tommy Wischnat, left, will be a key player this weekend against the Alexandra Hills Bombers in the QFA North Division 2 Grand Final.
Hinterland Blues coach Phillip Birchmore wants his team to concentrate on the little things that make a huge difference as his team heads in to Saturday’s QFA Division 2 North Grand Final showdown against Alexandra Hills Bombers at Wilston Grange.
Birchmore’s Blues will be hoping to go one better than last year when they lost the grand final.
“Defence wins finals matches,” Birchmore said at a Blues training run in the rain on Saturday. “So obviously we would like to take a stranglehold down there. They’ve got a really good forward line so we need to get on top of them.
“Midfields is always just going to be a tight battle all day. So, I think it will come down to the one-on-one contests, all over the ground. That will be what swings the game. If we win those 50/50s I think we will go all right.
“I had a look at the field down there at Grange yesterday. It’s in immaculate condition. It’s nice and big, plenty of room to run and find space on if we use the ball well.
“So I think it will be a great showcase. I’m looking at the weather patterns and forecast. I think there’s a bit of rain due for Friday, but that’ll be just enough to just green it up a little bit. I think it’ll be a fast deck, sun out, a great day for spectators.
“And for us the faster the better I think. If it rains, it just brings the skill-set down. Plus, we would prefer good conditions because we want people to see a good grand final.”
It is Birchmore’s fourth year at the Hinterland Blues during which the senior grade has enjoyed continual improvement.
He guided them from a finals berth in 2019 to a preliminary final in 2020 before the grand final loss last year.
So a win on Saturday would see the club come full circle as it gathers momentum toward next year’s promotion to Division 1.
“Last year our lead-up to the final was horrendous,” Birchmore said. “We were worn out. We didn’t even have a clubhouse.
“All the light towers were broken, so we trained under one light. The build-up was shocking. But, it is what it is. The preparation is a lot better this time round.”
We bleed blue: coach Phillip Birchmore lays down the law at half time.
Hinterland Blues club stalwart and workhorse Nathan Spring will play a key role on Saturday.
