Gnowangerup out to secure back-to-back premierships for the first time against red-hot Boxwood Hill outfit

Gnowangerup will be out to win back-to-back premierships for the first time in their history when they face an in-form Boxwood Hill in the Ongerup Football Association grand final on Saturday. The Bulldogs are undefeated this season and victory at Boxwood Hill would cap an outstanding year to secure the club successive flags for the first time. The two sides will meet in the grand final for the fourth time in the past five seasons and the Bulldogs are searching for their fourth premiership since 2015. The powerhouse team of the past two years will go in as hot favourites, having beaten the Bombers convincingly in all three encounters this season. Bulldogs coach Roy Addis said his side was likely to go in unchanged from their second semifinal victory. “The undefeated tag always hangs over your head going into a grand final,” he said. “There is a bit of pressure on us. “(Boxwood) form has been very good at the end of the year and they deserve their place in the grand final. “I think it’s a 50-50 game going in, rather than us going in clear favourites. “Out of the last five grand finals, we have both won two grand finals each, so this one decides it.” Fraser House, Elliot Jaeschke, Campbell Floyd, Scott Anderson and Lewis Davis will be key figures for the Bulldogs’ premiership quest. “It would be outstanding for the community to win back-to-back,” Addis said. “I was doing some research and I don’t think Gnowangerup has ever gone back-to-back. “It would bloody mean a lot.” The Bombers will take plenty of confidence into the decider having won their past five games and will be boosted by the inclusion of two key players. Star ruckman Jeremy Walker and gun midfielder Isaac Baum will return to the Bombers outfit playing in their fifth consecutive grand final. Glenn Peakcock (hamstring) and Todd Retallack (concussion) will miss the decider. Bombers coach Rick Carpenter said the Bulldogs would go in as favourites. “Absolutely we are looking for redemption after last year, they were very good and made us look a bit silly in the second half last year so we will try and turn the result around,” he said. “They are on a different level this year, it’s a hell of a challenge but one we are looking forward to. “They are close to best country football team going around I think. They go in clear favourites, anytime you go through a season undefeated you are going to be. “There is a bit of pressure on them and we don’t mind the underdog tag.” The Bombers are out to win their third flag in the past four seasons. Matt Campbell, Nic Bertola, Michael Swarbrick, Hayden Richter and Walker will be pivotal to the home side’s winning hopes. “It’s exciting to play on the revamped oval and facilities. “This is the fifth grand final in a row for most of the boys, so that’s a phenomenal achievement. “I think we have the team to cause an upset,’’ Carpenter said.