The Warriors and Mounties will go head to head in the Ararat and District Junior Football Association under-13 grand final at Ararat’s Richardson Oval on Sunday at 11.30am. 

They are the last remaining junior sides in the competition following the end to the Rovers and Bombers’ finals campaigns in the past two weeks.

Association president Liesa Iezekil said the players of both sides were excited following a week of preparations for the grand final.

“Both teams have been doing their training throughout the week and the parents have been working on banners for them to run through as well,” she said.

“Particularly the top age kids will enjoy it.

“They start from the bottom as a younger children but as they get older we expect them to be more responsible with the younger kids.”

Iezekil said the top age players would be playing their last game in the association before heading onto either Wimmera Football League or Mininera and District Football League clubs.

“Those top age kids are so excited to go off after playing in the grand final,” she said.

“It is completely different when they go to the Rats for example, or to the Mininera league where it is under-16.5, which is a massive jump for them.

“When you have little kids playing against 16-year-olds it is a big thing.”

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Heading is as favourites will be the strong Warriors outfit.

They were able to overcome the Mounties in the two side’s last meeting.

That semi-final clash on July 31 saw the Warriors run out 34-point winners.

It leaves the Mounties still needing to make up lots of ground if they want to defeat them at the weekend.

In the semi-final Warriors Jordan Cox and Kade Bohner both booted three majors for the game.

They were joined on the scorers list by Jeziah Woods and Alex Van Opstal.

At the other end were a string of single goal kickers for the Mounties.

Pat Toner, Bodhi Stephens, Callum Roverts and Flynn Toner all scored one goal each.

Their best players were Henry Shea, Flynn Toner and Isaac Carra

The Warriors best were Riley Walker, Cox, Woods and Bosco Iezekil. Their side won straight through the decider after the semi-final win against the Mounties.

It saw the Mounties sent into a preliminary final against the Bombers to reach the grand final.

After winning that game they earnt themselves a shot at redemption against the Warriors.

Iezekil asid the association was expecting a big crowd.

“Mininera clubs and the Rats often show great support,” she said.