The Youth League Magpies will follow on from the Katrina Fanning side, which lost to the Goulburn Stockmen last Sunday, and look to go one better. Coach Dave McPherson said he was both “nervous” and “happy”. 

“Very excited for them all, actually,” he said. 

“They’ve worked hard throughout the year, they’ve earned their chance at the Grand Final, so hopefully they can go out and put it together on Saturday.” 

The team finished as Minor Premiers for the season and have won 14 of the 16 matches they have played this season, along with one draw and a loss. 

Their only defeat came at the hands of Harden Boorowa in round 17, something that the side will be eager to avenge. 

“They’re all focused,” McPherson said. “We’ve had three or four hit-outs against Harden Boorowa now and they’ve all been very tough-fought competitions. We won the first one, then we had a draw, and then they beat us … there’s not much between the two sides.”

The two teams most recently played in the semi-finals, where Harden Boorowa built up a 0-10 lead before Yass came roaring back to win 20-10. 

“I know they’ll never give up, that’s one thing about the boys,” McPherson said. 

“So I’m always confident that if they get their fair share of the footy, they can get the win in the end. 

“You’re never confident of the win, you have to earn it. Harden will never give it to you.”

The key for the Magpies this weekend lies in their defence. 

“That’s been the key to our success this year, that they defend well,” McPherson said. “We haven’t had a lot of points scored against us this year, and I think that’s the key on Saturday. 

“Harden Boorowa have got some good halves and a good fullback, so I think that’ll be the key for us.” 

The Youth League Grand Final will kick off from 11.45am at Crookwell Memorial Oval, 25 Robertson Street, on Saturday September 8.