Tigers and Bombers roll into wheelchair GF
The 2022 Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League senior premiership will be decided this Sunday September 18 when Richmond and Essendon clash in the Grand Final at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, starting at 12pm.
Free tickets can be booked here.
Richmond earned its place in the decider after finishing on top of the ladder with 10 wins, one draw and a loss to proceed directly through to the Grand Final. The Bombers finished second with a 9-3 record and advanced after an epic preliminary final triumph over Collingwood.
The Bombers trailed the Magpies by 17 points at three-quarter time last Sunday before fighting back to force extra time. Sam Maraldo was the hero with four last-quarter goals and two-goals in extra time, with the final scoreline 13.10 (88) to 9.14 (68).
Key players - Richmond
Richmond have the most dynamic forward line in the competition with Vincent Naidu scoring 87 goals this season and Chris Henderson 58. The deadly combination has been causing defenses headaches all year.
Teisha Shadwell has been the dominant centre player in the competition this season. Teisha has played wheelchair basketball for Australia and her incredible skill has been on show all season. Teisha is currently playing college basketball in America however will be making the trip down under for the big game.
Key players - Essendon
For Essendon Caleb Logan has led the way this season with 116 goals, his electric pace and chair skills will be on full display this Sunday.
Logan has been well supported by Anthony Perito this year, who has assisted many of Logan’s goals while putting through 46 himself.
Previous meetings this season:
Round 4: Essendon 10.4 64 defeated Richmond 9.3 57
Round 8: Richmond 11.6 72 defeated Essendon 5.6 36
Round 12: Richmond 14.7 91 defeated Essendon 6.3 39
The senior game won't be the only VWFL action this Sunday, with the state league's first ever junior wheelchair match getting the day started at 10am before the Development League Grand Final at 11am, also between Essendon and Richmond. Richmond is undefeated this season so will be hard to stop, however Essendon hit form in the preliminary final downing Collingwood by 56 points.
Full Schedule - Sunday 18 September
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
10am – Junior Wheelchair Match
11am – VWFL Development League Grand Final: Richmond v Essendon
12pm – VFWL Senior Grand Final: Richmond v Essendon
Free tickets can be booked here.
Senior team list - Richmond
2. Matthew Morris
4. Vincent Naidu
6. Chris Kotsanas
7. James Weinert
8. Bryant Parsons
9. Judeland Anthony
10. Miranda Charlton (VC)
12. Angelo Mavroudis
13. Matthew Farrell
17. Mitchell Stretton
18. Chris Henderson (C)
19. Christy Arulnesathasan
23. Peter Ogunyemi
35. Freya Munzel
41. Teisha Shadwell
Senior team list - Essendon
1. Scott Van Gemert
5. Caleb Logan (VC)
7. Vincent Falcone
8. James Leonard (VC)
11. Anthony Perito
12. Sam Maraldo
14. William Taylor
15. Adam Georgelin
18. Antony Arulnesathasan
22. Erin Power
24. Louis Rowe (C)
25. Kaleb Powell
30. Nicholas Briant
34. Piers Wall
43. Ben Milton
96. Chris Ferguson
Watch this special report by ABC Sport, which provides a great overview and explains the game of wheelchair football:
