A judicious captaincy decision and a courageous act have created two powerful narratives for this weekend's grand final between Old Boys and West Tamworth at No.1 Oval.
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Old Boys captain Ben Middlebrook revealed on Friday that he had delayed Aaron Hazlewood's bowling return from injury until after Christmas, with the goal of him doing exactly what he is doing now: destroying batting lineups at the business end of the season.
Also on Friday, West Tamworth captain Shaun Stevenson said opener David Mudaliar would play in the grand final despite dislocating and fracturing his ring finger wicketkeeping in last weekend's preliminary final defeat of City United. Amazingly, he will also keep in the season finale.
These two narratives have enhanced the overarching theme of the match: a clash between two sides fortified by long undefeated streaks - one the dominate side of this era, the other chasing their first premiership since 2010-11 - and their crack at redemption.
For Old Boys - into their sixth consecutive grand final straight from the major semi-final - it is their chance to regain the title they lost to South Tamworth last season after four straight premierships.
Wests have the chance to redeem themselves after misfiring badly in last season's final series. But as Stevenson admitted, the Hazlewood factor looms large in their bid to do that in the two-day match.
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Like Middlebrook, Stevenson said Hazlewood was a "big-game player" - a fact illustrated, the former said, by a single-digit career average in finals. With Australian vice-captain Josh Hazlewood standing at first slip, in a one-off appearance for Old Boys about a month ago, his big brother took 9-18 against City in the first innings and 15-47 off 31 overs for the match.
Since resuming bowling after tearing the bicep off the bone in his bowling arm last year while playing Premier League soccer for OVA, the right-arm quick has taken 37 wickets in seven innings at an average of 4.9, a strike rate of 15.8 and an economy rate of 1.9. He also blasted an 80-ball 104 not out against Bective East last month.
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"Aaron always steps up when they [Old Boys] need him," Stevenson said. "So, yeah, we'll challenge that head on and see how we go. But it's anyone's game ... we don't really have anything to lose.
"Like I said, we've come from last from Christmas to making the grand final. So we're just gonna enjoy it and, yeah, just really be up for it - and whatever happens, happens."
Good luck telling Dave he is not playing.
- Shaun Stevenson on David Mudaliar
Stevenson applauded the bravery of Mudaliar, 44, who is desperate to regain form with the bat after an injury and illness-marred season. "Good luck telling Dave he is not playing," Stevenson said, in response to Mudaliar's surprise selection in the grand final.
"I think, good on him," Stevenson added. "He'll obviously have to be playing through a bit of pain, but that's just Dave: he does everything for the team. It is inspirational. Hopefully we can feed off that."
Hazlewood, 29, is also an inspiration to his teammates, although Middlebrook revealed that he had to save the allrounder from himself to give him the best chance of saving his best for now.
"He wanted to bowl before Christmas but I sort of had to hold him back," Middlebrook said. "You can see the benefits. He's fresh and he's really hooking in, so it's been great."
Old Boys are unchanged from the side who drew with City United in the washed-out major semi, while Wests welcome back opening bowler Elliot Bowen after he missed the preliminary final.
Old Boys: Ben Middlebrook (c), Adam McGuirk, Corey Sommers, Mitchell Swain, Landan Price, Adam Lole, Simon Norvill, Abel Carney, James Austin, Troy Sands, Chris Coulton, Aaron Hazlewood, Cameron Kemp (13th man).
West Tamworth: Shaun Stevenson (c), Harrison Kelly, David Mudaliar, Daniel Collinson, Josh Worpel, Cameron Reeves, Heath Falkenmire, Jake Morris, Brendan Rakus, Grant Popplewell, Stu Irwin, Jock Ellis (13th man), Jacob Ellis (14th man).
