GVBBL | New champions set to be crowned as Crushers and Hounds face off in Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League decider

As has been the mantra all season, the Kyabram-based Hounds will be looking to graduate from being the competition’s bridesmaids, having fallen to the revered SRP Mud Dogs in the only two GVBBL deciders to date.

Meanwhile, the Crushers will be desperate to follow in the footsteps of their cross-town rivals and keep the title in Shepparton for another year.

Set to be the region’s biggest cricketing occasion of the summer, Hounds owner Brenton Sheppard said he could not wait to see his squad back on the grand final stage.

“It is very exciting, we are absolutely fired up and ready to give it a good shake on Sunday afternoon,” Sheppard said.

“Cricket is a very funny game as we have seen a number of times this season, so we go in respecting our opposition and expecting a tough fight to the finish.

“Having tasted a couple of losses on grand final day we know how tough it is and are desperate to not be bridesmaids this time around.”

The Hounds enter this grand final a firm favourite after winning all three of their group stage matches.

This included a thumping nine-wicket win over the Crushers in round two, where they rolled their grand final opponents for 60.

Leading the way for the boys in light blue has been none other than Kyabram legend Paul Newman, who has recorded scores of 90, 27 not-out and 87 not-out in his three knocks to be the competition’s leading run-scorer with an average of 204.

But the Hounds go much deeper than their big-hitting opener, with the likes of former Melbourne Renegade Cameron Stevenson and Greenvale spin king Michael Archer leading the bowling attack.

Meanwhile, the likes of Kyle Mueller, Adam Ward and Jedd Wright add more firepower to the batting ranks.

“Paulo (Newman) just has this aura about him, the way he hits the ball with such force and sums up situations, he is obviously very crucial to our team,” Sheppard said about his star opener.

“And then you add a guy like Kyle Mueller, who is so inventive in the way he plays and can score at will, along with Jedd Wright who hasn’t had much of an opportunity with the bat so far, it is a really exciting mix for us.

“Throw in Cam Stevenson with the ball who just steams in and sends them down at a rapid pace and then Dylan Cuttriss with his ability to finish an innings, I think our side is so well balanced and I can’t wait to see what they can do on grand final day.”

Sporting so much top-end talent, bringing down the might of the Hounds will be no mean feat.

But that is the task that lies ahead for the Crushers, who according to owner Nathan Delahey will relish the big stage on Sunday.

“We’re really looking forward to it, the team is fairly stable which is a good sign and we are excited to have another crack at the Hounds,” he said.

“Win, lose or draw I am going to enjoy the day anyway, as much as I want to win, just being out there and a part of what is set to be a big day will be fantastic.”

Despite carrying the tag of underdogs, the Crushers still have their fair share of star power.

Marquee duo Andy Poppa and Henry Cullen front a batting line-up that recorded the competition’s highest total in round one.

Meanwhile, the grand final experience of Shepparton stars Ramadan Yze and skipper Dwain Vidler is sure to rub off on the rest of the group.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing Henry (Cullen) get among the runs, as a keeper he is probably one of the best I’ve seen at local level, so if he and Andy Poppa can get away that will go a long way to us putting up a good score,” Delahey said.

“But I think it is just going to take a complete team effort to get the job done, the talent is certainly there and, hopefully, on Sunday we see it put into practice.”