Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 Preview – Grand Final
Published on Thursday, September 4, 2025
Author : Doug Long
The final day of the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season is upon us as Laurimar and the Fitzroy Stars prepare to battle it out for the ultimate prize in Division 3 footy.
“I’d be surprised if the Stars and Power don’t play off in the grand final”. That was a quote from a coach of one of the other teams way back in May.
And while many others expected the same eventuality, the pathway to that one day in September may have surprised some.
After becoming the first team to go through the entire regular season undefeated in Division 3 history, the football world was shocked to see the Stars soundly beaten in the second semi final against Laurimar.
Rather than taking the easy road to the main game, Neville Jetta’s men had to face off against Ivanhoe to qualify for the grand final.
Having successfully negotiated that hurdle with an easy 76-point win over Ivanhoe, the Stars have the chance to redeem themselves this weekend.
Fans of the Hoers would’ve been disappointed on their loss, but the season as a whole was a great success and the experience of playing three finals games they played should hold them in good stead for 2026.
The Stars’ road to the grand final is somewhat similar to that of Watsonia in 2016. After the Saints began the year at 3-3, they went through the rest of the season undefeated and hit the finals with confidence and momentum.
Surprisingly, they had a bad loss to Epping in the second semi final. But they were able to win their preliminary final.
Going into the grand final as underdogs, they reproduced their late season form to claim the flag. Stars fans will hope that this pattern repeats itself.
Some thought that having a week’s break either side of the 2024 second semi final didn’t work for the Stars. That isn’t an issue this time.
Meanwhile, the Power has looked like a team destined to get back into Division 2 quickly. They secured the double chance with a few weeks to go and defeated every opponent bar one in the regular season.
They showed improvement in each game against the Stars this year. They were disappointed with their Round 1 loss to the tune of 24 points.
In Round 13, Laurimar looked like winners at the last change at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval with an 11-point lead and the use of the breeze coming home. But the home side lifted to claim a narrow 8-point win.
Jimmy Atkins’ men flew out of the blocks in the second semi-final to lead by a massive 35-points at quarter time. The Stars never looked like erasing the deficit thereafter, losing by 31-points.
While the Power deserve favouritism on the basis of their dominant win in the second semi-final, it’s hard to tip against a team in the Stars that has only lost once all season.
Both teams have firepower up forward. Elijah Taylor has booted 49 goals this season and will be ably assisted with the likes of Patrick Farrant and AFL legend Eddie Betts looming as players capable of kicking multiple majors.
Betts slotted five goals in the round 13 match against the Power. After being goalless in the second semi-final, Alex Williamson returned to form with a bag of three in the preliminary final and is another dangerous small forward.
Up the other end, Patrick Fitzgerald has been enormous for Laurimar all season and, on 88 goals, would love to push well into the 90s in the final game for the year.
He will have Kaiden Arthur nearby as a livewire forward who has regularly kicked multiple goals this season.
With both defences looking to have their hands full, the midfield battle will be crucial.
Kain Proctor had led the charge with help from Jai Burns and Ethan Penrith for the Stars this season. Playing coach Jetta has also ventured into the midfield at times to great effect.
Likewise, the Power midfield is chock full of talent. Captain Luke Wilson has had a wonderful season in the centre square.
He has been ably assisted by Bailey Macleod and Joel Lawson, with both these players regularly drifting forward to hit the scoreboard. The battle through the midfield looks to be crucial in the outcome of the game.
The Stars enter the game looking to erase the disappointment of their grand final defeat last season. Similarly, Laurimar will be aiming for atonement after a poor end to 2024 which saw them relegated.
Fans on Saturday will witness a clash between two sides that both have shown the form to indicate they truly belong in the higher division. But only one team will prevail in what looks to be a classic grand final encounter.