Pakenham will host Ballarat at Cardinia Life on Saturday night at 8pm in the Big V Youth League One men’s final.
It’s a clash of third against fourth, the two teams splitting their regular season matches against each other.
The Warriors won every quarter in a 107-73 round nine clash between the sides before going down 79-78 in round 16.
But the Warriors are laser-focused on the road ahead, rather than the rearview mirror, aware that the grand final examination will be far tougher.
Ballarat brought in NBL-1 player Ethan Fiegert late in the season, whose double-double off the bench in Ballarat’s semi-final match was the difference and then some.
Pakenham will take some confidence from its ability to minimise the impact, somewhat, of Luke Lynberg and Liam Booth, but understand that Fiegert, along with Will Hynes, who leads the league for points per game, present different challenges.
“Hynes and Fiegert are two very good players,” Pakenham coach Braden Venning said.
“Fiegert has been playing NBL-1 most of the year and had a huge game tonight and Hynes, returning from college has transformed that team.
“They’re two big guys we need to put a lot of effort into to make sure we stop.
“But it’s everybody; we won’t win it on individual performance; we’ll win it on team performance.”
With the core of the group having played in five finals across the past two Youth League seasons, including the heartbreaking grand final loss to West Gate last year, and February’s qualification series, there is a sense of cautious optimism that they can deliver when it matters.
“We’ve added Jye Horne and Angus Murdoch (and Linden Moon) and they’ve bought into the same program,” Venning said.
“They’re fantastic guys who are hungry and happy to work on the little things.
“We put a heap of time into game film on Thursday, locking in and making sure we cover every little thing.
“Details matter when we step up a division so we have to lock in for as close to 40 minutes as possible.”
Acting captain Kaleb Beveridge is Pakenham’s barometer, averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game, all team-high numbers, which has him in All-Star five contention.
He is well-complemented by rapid 2025 improvers Mitch Zeunert and Mason Fraser, point-guard Aaron Small, and a reliable bench whose outside shooting, defensive processes give Pakenham the best depth in the competition.
“In one game, details matter,” Venning said.
“We know there’ll be runs, the punch will come and it’s just how we react to it.
“One of the biggest things we preach is giving up a good shot for a great shot – we’re very process-driven.
“Even if we miss a shot, we’re confident it’s the right play.
“They play for each other, they move for each other, the off-ball movement is what Ballarat has to stop.
“It’s not just two guys who have a heap of points – we go as deep as 12.”
Pakenham has the best pace rating in the competition and best defence, so will be looking for fast break points and will hope to replicate the heat it brought in the semi final which forced defensive stops repeatedly when the pressure lifted.
Qualifying for the grand final also guarantees Pakenham a double chance at the Championship Youth Qualification
That Pakenham has qualified for the grand final in 2025 is an extraordinary achievement given it is the club’s first year in Youth League 1, having been promoted from Youth League 2 last year when the Warriors went unbeaten until grand final day.
The Warriors will be hoping that unlike last year’s poignant woe, the tale this year is capped with a fitting denouement.
