LOSING a football grand final is never easy, but often it spurs teams onto even greater heights.
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That is what Laharum is hoping to reach in 2015.
After a shock loss in the 2014 decider, the Mountain Men have approached the 2015 season with renewed determination and focus.
Coach Shannon Argall used both words to describe his side’s relentless pursuit of premiership glory this year.
So far, the season has played out much as it did last year, with Laharum going through the regular season and final undefeated.
Only conquering Kalkee on grand final day remains for the side.
“I think it prepares us better than anything. What happened last year really keeps us focused and settled,” Argall said.
“There really is a lot of determination to get the premiership at the club, not just from a coaches perspective but also a players perspective. They have really kept the whole group in check and focused on getting the right result.”
Laharum was a well-drilled side in 2015 and their forward press is a tough task for any club to take on.
Harrow-Balmoral found this out when it was belted by 86 points two weeks ago in the first semi-final.
If Laharum can maintain the pressure on the ball carriers and keep the ball locked in its forward half, there will be plenty of goal-scoring opportunities for in-form forwards Jason Prizibilla and Joe Harrison.
The pair has led the goal-kicking tally in 2015 and provide a potent set-up for the Mountain Men.
For the Kees, they will need to work out how they move the footy in order to beat the press.
Players like Steve Schulz, Zavier Hobbs and Tim Wade provide plenty of size and strength at the contest, but that isn’t where they need to dominate to beat Laharum.
Using the ball well and finding a way through their pressing numbers is where they really need to focus.
Do they want to run and carry, using handballs to break the lines and get forward? Or would congesting the stoppages and keeping each contest tightly pressed be their best option?
Hitting a purple patch is forward Josh Beddison, who kicked 14 goals in two weeks before being restricted by hamstring issues.
But the Kees say their big man is ready to go.
Coach Steve Schultz said his side knew it would take a big effort to get over the undefeated Laharum.
But he added it would not back away from the challenge.
“You wait a fair while to play in grand finals, so it is very exciting,” he said.
“We haven’t beaten them all year but we have competed well.
“I think our best is good enough – we just haven’t played that well against them.”
The Kees are in terrific form at the moment after they thrashed Harrow-Balmoral in the preliminary final on Saturday.
They finished the game with four players unable to return to the field, but Schultz said the decision was mostly precautionary.
“I can’t fault our lead-up to be honest. Having those close games and then to play really well against Harrow-Balmoral last week at a finals intensity was perfect,” he said.
