THE Basin Football Club is ready to move up in the Eastern Football League but first it needs to win the division 4 grand final at Walker Park, Mitcham, next Sunday.
The Bears won the major semi-final beating rivals South Belgrave by 24 points on Sunday to earn the early spot in the season decider.
Veteran stars Todd Power, Matt Smith and Clinton King led the Bears to victory and helped the club score a weekend off while the Saints battle Silvan in the preliminary final. Bears president Brett Howlett said the team was excited to be in the grand final but knew either the Saints or Cats would provide a major challenge on grand final day.
"We were happy but in a controlled way. We still have a big game to get over before we start popping champagne bottles. South Belgrave is a similar side to us and Silvan have some big-name recruits, so if they fire, anything could happen. There is not much in it and everyone is well aware of that."
Howlett said the Bears' players were leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the grand final, with about half the senior side attending a recovery session at Bonbeach on Monday morning.
"It was for the boys lucky enough to have an RDO on Monday. I think they may have done one beach recovery session last year. I've been at the club for 30 years. The only beach the players went to was one with a bar on it."
With the Bears winning their division in the under-17s this season and the reserves in the preliminary final this Sunday, Howlett said the club wanted to move into a higher competition.
"We are ready to go. We are one club, juniors and seniors, and we want to give our young players the best possible playing opportunities.
"But we have to get there first."