Wickepin and Williams to do battle in Upper Great Southern Football League grand final

Wickepin will be out to complete a perfect season and win their first Upper Great Southern Football League premiership since 2008 when they clash with Williams in the grand final in Pingelly on Sunday. The Warriors won all seven home-and-away games before winning a thriller against the Cats in their second semifinal clash a fortnight ago. The minor premiers trailed at half-time but booted four goals to two in a narrow two-point victory over the Cats in the semifinal while in their other clash this season the Warriors won by 20 points. It would be a breakthrough premiership for the Warriors, who last tasted grand final glory against the Cats in 2008 before the tables were turned in 2009 when the Cats lifted the cup aloft. Warriors coach Graeme Manton said his side will not be at full strength. “Royce Melvin and Rowan Astbury have been injured for a few weeks and we were hoping they would come up but will both miss,” he said. “Luke Crouch hurt his knee in the second semi but I expect him to be good to go and Aidan Omodei missed the second semi but he will come back into the side. “It will make it tough at selection night but that is the case for every grand final team. “Both games against Williams this year have been fairly close so it will be a great contest again. “We need to bring a four-quarter effort on Sunday if we want to win.” The Warriors will be out to secure their third premiership in the past 13 years. “The chance doesn't come around all that often so we will enjoy the challenge,” Manton said. “People say there will be a question mark against whichever team wins because it was a compromised season but I think it is harder to win it this year than most. “We have had to have three goes at pre-season and stay mentally prepared for whenever we could start. “Every premiership is special and whoever wins thoroughly deserves it.” For the Cats they will be hoping to continue their golden run, as they chase a seventh premiership in the last 11 seasons. “The team is shaping up good and is well balanced across the field,” Williams player-coach Gerard Medlen said. “A couple of players will have to prove their fitness by the end of the week but apart from that the remainder of the team is fighting fit. “Dion Anthony, Ryan Melvin and Kodie Fleay were good last game in the middle and gave their forwards plenty of opportunities so we will need to stop their influence.” The Cats last won the UGSFL premiership in 2016 and will go in with confidence after a narrow loss to the Warriors in the second semifinal before an emphatic preliminary final win on the weekend. “It would be awesome to win a premiership in a year that has been full of ups and downs,” Medlen said. “With the season finally getting off the ground in July, to get the side together and gel the way they did in seven games it would be a credit to them to pull off a victory this Sunday.” The league grand final starts at 2.30pm on Sunday. Boddington and Kukerin Dumbleyung will meet in the reserves decider, Brookton-Pingelly face Narrogin in the C-grade and in the D-grade the Hawks tackle Katanning.