Bulldogs ready to go head-to-head with Goon

Phillip Island is preparing for a grand final dogfight with back-to-back premiers Nar Nar Goon, with the Bulldogs completing their final training session last night before Saturday’s decider.

And the club was buzzing.

Around 100 players, family members, friends and supporters packed into the club for its regular Thursday night dinner.

Though not much was regular about it, with a much bigger crowd as the club prepared for a massive weekend.

Both the senior and reserves football sides will play in grand finals on Saturday, alongside the club’s under-17 netballers.

Senior playing coach and former AFL footballer Cam Pedersen said he’d been told it was the first time Phillip Island’s senior and reserves sides had played in a grand final on the same day since 1995.

“It’s been like 30 or 31 years since we’ve both been in a grand final,” he said.

“We’ve got 58 people available for selection, so pretty good vibes at the moment.

“Everyone’s feeling like we can have a red hot go.”

The seniors will face a very familiar obstacle.

Nar Nar Goon has been the competition’s strongest side in recent years, having won the past two flags.

But the Island has already shown it can match them, coming away with a 15-point win against them a couple of months ago in round 15.

Pedersen said that gave the Bulldogs confidence.

“It was probably more relief, I reckon, because I don’t think we’d beaten them in three years or something,” he said.

“But obviously when we’re at our best, anyone’s beatable.

“Hopefully we can be at our best on Saturday.”

Captain Jack Taylor will also bring plenty of grand final experience into Saturday’s clash.

Taylor has played in six previous grand finals, winning three and losing three, and said this weekend’s matchup felt more winnable when compared to the three he lost.

Phillip Island will head into the grand final with a lineup unchanged from its preliminary side.

And there won’t be a complicated tactical overhaul.

Pedersen said the Bulldogs wanted a contested, one-on-one game and would back themselves around the football rather than sending players into tagging roles.

“We’ll just go head-to-head really,” he said.

“We won’t be tagging anyone or doing that sort of stuff.

“We’ll just back ourselves in and make sure that we’re head over the ball.”

Saturday will also mark Pedersen’s final game as Phillip Island coach.

He told club president Chris Ross before the season that 2026 would be his last year in charge, although the jury’s still out on whether he’ll play again next year.

“If we win the flag I’ll probably retire,” he said.

“But if we’re unlucky I’ll probably play again next year.”

The occasion will also carry a bit of extra meaning for Kai Mackenzie, who will play in his 100th game in the grand final.

Club president Chris Ross said the mood around Phillip Island had stretched well beyond the four walls of the footy and netball club.

“It’s not just good for the club, it’s good for our community,” he said.

“The whole town gets up and about.”

The night was also given an extra lift when Liberal candidate for Bass Rochelle Halstead announced a $10 million commitment towards the new Phillip Island Recreation Reserve if the Liberals are elected in November, alongside Shadow Minister for Sport Brad Battin.

The seniors will take on Nar Nar Goon at Garfield Recreation reserve on Saturday, September 19, with the grand final starting at 2.30pm.