DANDENONG Stingrays and Sandringham Dragons have taken different routes to reach the 2022 NAB League Boys Grand Final.

The Stingrays finished third on the home and away ladder and progressed through to the decider after downing the Western Jets in the quarter final, before winning a one-point thriller against the Tasmania Devils in last week's preliminary finals.

The Dragons have had to take the long route to the Grand Final after finishing the season in eighth place on the ladder. The won a close game against the Murray Bushrangers during a memorable Wildcard Round, before producing commanding performances in finals wins over the Calder Cannons and Gippsland Power.

The Stingrays have received a triple boost with arugably its three best players being cleared to play in Friday night’s NAB League Grand Final against Sandringham Dragons at IKON Park.

Morrish medallist Taj Campbell-Farrell, who hasn’t played since having surgery on compartment syndrome in his feet after Round 12, has proven his fitness and has been named on the bench for the premiership decider, while fellow star midfielders Mitch Szybkowski (illness) and Henry Hustwaite (ankle) will also return after missing the thrilling semi-final win over Tasmania last week.

Sandringham has named an unchanged line-up for the second straight week, which means important defender Jakob Anderson has failed to recover from the hamstring tightness that saw him miss the semi-final.

The Dragons will go into the Grand Final riding a wave of confidence after three consecutive finals wins, the most recent a convincing victory over minor premier Gippsland Power.

Entry is free to the match, which will be streamed live and on AFL.com.au, AFL Live Official App and the NAB League App.

2022 NAB LEAGUE BOYS GRAND FINAL
DANDENONG STINGRAYS (12-3) v SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS (10-6)
Friday, September 16, 5.10pm @ IKON Park. Entry is free. Enter via Gate 5
Watch on AFL.com.au, AFL Live Official App and the NAB League App)

THIS SEASON

Round 8, May 27, 2022, at Shepley Oval
Dandenong    2.3    7.6    11.8    14.10    94
Sandringham    1.4    2.9    6.12    9.19    73

Goals:
STINGRAYS: J. Davidson-Lopo 3, H. De Mattia 2, M. Smith, K. De La Rue, O. Williams, F. Emile-Brennan, C. Simpson, H. Hustwaite, S. Latreille, H. Marks, M. Nelson; DRAGONS: T. McMullin, M. Ramsden 2, C. Clarke, H. Hall-Kahan, C. Rousakis, H. Johnston, H. Sheezel.

Disposals:
STINGRAYS: T. Campbell-Farrell 40, F. Emile-Brennan 28, H. Hustwaite 22, C. Simpson, F. Jakstas 19; DRAGONS: L. Benton 34, W. Ashcroft 27, C. Clarke 25, H. Hall-Kahan 21, L. MacNab 20.

Marks:
STINGRAYS: F. Emile-Brennan 8, H. Collopy 7, T. Campbell-Farrell 6; DRAGONS: W. Ashcroft 8, C. Clarke, E. Williams 6.

Tackles:
STINGRAYS: T. Kirkwood 6, H. De Mattia, M. Nelson 5. DRAGONS: W. Ashcroft 6.

Hitouts:
STINGRAYS: P. Gerdan 17; DRAGONS: M. Ramsden 11. 

Team Stats:
Disposals: SAN 326-310. Marks: DAN 72-62. Hitouts: DAN 30-24. Tackles: DAN 52-45. Inside-50s: DAN 50-49. Rebound-50s: DAN 39-35. Free Kicks: SAN 24-16.

ROAD TO THE GRAND FINAL

DANDENONG STINGRAYS
R1: Dandenong Stingrays 12.9 81 def Eastern Ranges 9.13 67
R2: Dandenong Stingrays 13.14 92 def Brisbane Lions Academy 11.6 72
R3: Dandenong Stingrays 13.12 90 def Bendigo Pioneers 10.13 73
R4: Dandenong Stingrays 9.6 60 lost to Gippsland Power 15.16 106
R5: Dandenong Stingrays 10.8 68 lost to Geelong Falcons 10.12 72
R6: bye
R7: bye
R8: Dandenong Stingrays 14.10 94 def Sandringham Dragons 9.19 73
R9: Dandenong Stingrays 12.16 88 def GWV Rebels 11.10 76
R10: Dandenong Stingrays 17.13 115 def Tasmania Devils 5.5 35
R11: Dandenong Stingrays 10.12 72 def Oakleigh Chargers 8.12 60
R12: Dandenong Stingrays 11.8 74 def Murray Bushrangers 10.11 71
R13: Dandenong Stingrays 8.17 65 lost to Eastern Ranges 10.13 73
R14: bye
R15: Dandenong Stingrays 12.14 86 def Bendigo Pioneers 11.13 79
R16: Dandenong Stingrays 7.12 54 def Gippsland Power 7.8 50
Wildcard: bye
Quarters: Dandenong Stingrays 18.11 119 def Western Jets 6.10 46
Preliminary: Dandenong Stingrays 9.9 63 def Tasmania Devils 9.8 62

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
R1: Sandringham Dragons 9.9 63 lost to Oakleigh Chargers 11.15 81
R2: Sandringham Dragons 14.14 98 def Calder Cannons 8.7 55
R3: Sandringham Dragons 11.17 83 def GWS Academy 11.10 76
R4: Sandringham Dragons 21.14 140 def Tasmania Devils 10.8 68
R5: bye
R6: bye
R7: Sandringham Dragons 9.12 66 lost to Eastern Ranges 13.12 90
R8: Sandringham Dragons 9.19 73 lost to Dandenong Stingrays 14.10 94
R9: Sandringham Dragons 17.10 112 def Northern Knights 5.11 41
R10: Sandringham Dragons 13.16 94 def Western Jets 8.6 54
R11: Sandringham Dragons 7.18 60 lost to Gippsland Power 10.5 65
R12: Sandringham Dragons 13.7 85 def GWV Rebels 10.8 68
R13: Sandringham Dragons 11.12 79 def Geelong Falcons 7.14 56
R14: bye
R15: Sandringham Dragons 7.11 53 lost to Eastern Ranges 20.10 130
R16: Sandringham Dragons 14.9 93 lost to Oakleigh Chargers 13.20 98
Wildcard: Sandringham Dragons 11.11 77 def Murray Bushrangers 10.7 67
Quarters: Sandringham Dragons 17.13 115 def Calder Cannons 8.6 54
Preliminary: Sandringham Dragons 14.12 96 def Gippsland Power 9.8 62

TEAM CHANGES

DANDENONG STINGRAYS
IN: T. Campbell-Farrell, H. Hustwaite, M. Szybkowski
OUT: S. Latreille (suspended), Z. Snowden, F. Wood (omit)

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
unchanged

Prediction: Stingrays by 13

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL