Parade and Emmanuel to battle it out for Herald Sun Shield title
Parade College will defend its Herald Sun Shield Senior Boys Division One title against Emmanuel College Warrnambool, after both schools won their Semi-Finals on Wednesday in completely contrasting circumstances.
Parade earned another shot at the Herald Sun Shield after winning the 2024 Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) premiership. Their status as one of the strongest football schools in the state was affirmed with a huge 118-point triumph at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 20.18 (138) to 3.2 (20), over Parade, who qualified as the undefeated representative of Southern Independent Schools.
Angus Smith was one of the stars for the victors with five goals, while Ethan Arnel and Kristian Lawson booted three majors each.
In the other Senior Boys Division One Semi-Final at DSV Stadium in Williamstown, a mark and goal to Charlie McKinnon in the last minute gave Emmanuel College the lead and a two-point win in a thriller over Ballarat Grammar, 6.11 (47) to 5.15 (45).
It was close for most of the day with both sides inaccurate and no more than three points the difference at any of the breaks. It looked like Ballarat Grammar had done enough when it edged ahead with only minutes to play but a big pack mark square and conversion in the goal square by McKinnon, one of his team’s best, gave his side the opportunity to play in its first ever Herald Sun Shield Grand Final and take on Parade at ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne next Wednesday 14 August at 12:30pm.
Amon Radley was also excellent for Emmanuel, as was Talor Byrne and Sam Carter, while Reggie Mast joined McKinnon in kicking two goals for the winners.
Ballarat Grammar were well served by Dom Penny, Floyd Burmeister and Monty Maloney.
In 2023, Parade College did the double in Boys Division One, winning the Senior Boys decider over Maribyrnong College while the Intermediate Boys side beat Rowville Secondary College to win the premiership.
In Girls Division One, double-header Grand Finals will be played the day before the boys on Tuesday 13 August and also at ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne. In Senior Girls, it's a repeat of the 2023 final match-up featuring defending champions Melbourne Girls Grammar and Caulfield Grammar while in the Intermediate Girls, Carey Grammar will be out to go one better than they did a year ago and face Rowville Secondary College.
Full Herald Sun Shield scores, fixtures, best players, goal kickers on PlayHQ here.
All 2024 Herald Sun Shield matches are being live streamed via NewsCorp's KommunityTV platform, which is available to Herald Sun subscribers: www.kommunitytv.com
2024 HERALD SUN SHIELD - DIVISION ONE GRAND FINALS
GIRLS DIVISION ONE - Tuesday 13 August, ETU Stadium Port Melbourne
Intermediate Girls Division One Grand Final - 10:00am
Carey Grammar (Associated Public Schools/Associated Grammar Schools) v Rowville Secondary College (School Sport Victoria)
Senior Girls Division One Grand Final - 12:30pm
Melbourne Girls Grammar (Girls Sport Victoria) v Caulfield Grammar (Associated Public Schools/Associated Grammar Schools)
BOYS DIVISION ONE - Wednesday 14 August, ETU Stadium Port Melbourne
Intermediate Boys Division One Grand Final - 10:00am
Western Heights College, Geelong (School Sport Victoria) v St Kevin's College, Toorak (Associated Public Schools)
Senior Boys Division One Grand Final - 12:30pm
Parade College (Associated Catholic Colleges) v Emmanuel College, Warrnambool (School Sport Victoria)
