The sun is set to make a grand appearance this Saturday as six teams from four different clubs battle it out for the right to call themselves Premiers in the last of the 2025 Budget Car and Truck Rental Grand Final weekends!

In three back-to-back matches, the A Grade Men, A Reserves Men, and the EGT Phil Scott Colts will take to the field at HIF Health Insurance Oval in what will be an epic weekend of finals footy.

We reached out to University and Fremantle CBC to find out who their three Colts players to watch are, and to get their thoughts on the 2025 season for their teams and clubs. Here’s what they had to say!

EGT Phil Scott Colts: University vs Fremantle CBC

HIF Health Insurance Oval, 10AM, $20 Entry

The match between University and Fremantle CBC kicks off Saturday’s massive day of grand finals and it’s set to be an epic rematch. University finished atop the ladder for the second year in a row and is looking to win back-to-back premierships this weekend. The teams have faced off three times with University managing to win by a few goals each time; however, Fremantle CBC boasts several high margin wins against tough oppositions this season, showing how strong their team taking the field this Saturday has become.

From Fremantle CBC comes Sam Shales who took out the 2025 Phil Scott Colts Best and Fairest last week, closely followed by University’s Matthew Turkich who was runner up. With two exemplary players to watch amidst a sea of emerging youthful talent from both clubs playing this Saturday, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss out on the final Colts game of the season.

“At University our Colts program has always been strong, and we’re at a point now where we are expected to either win or be competing for a premiership year on year,” said University Coach Oscar Morcombe. “We are incredibly proud of a 17-win season and it is one that will be remembered by many.”

The team’s core focus across the 2024 season was to learn how to defend as a cohesive unit. With a cohort of fresh players to train, the coaching team at University sought to drive home the importance of a strong defensive before expanding into an offensive strategy.

“We were able to drill our gameplan into the squad and with many boys winning the 2024 premiership coming back for the 2025 season, it meant we could focus on other areas of play,” Morcombe explained. “2025 saw us expand our offensive game while also merging the players new to Uni into our system.”

University will have two teams playing Saturday with their Men’s A Reserves playing after the Colts match. With many of the club’s graduating Colts having moved into the A Reserves side, the team is excited to see the rewards of the hard work their Colts players put in eventuate.

“We love being involved with the reserves side as many of the graduating colts are now playing their football there, so the connection between the A Colts and the Reserves side is strong,” Morcombe continued. “Regardless of how either result goes, the University players and supporters will be out in number watching both games of football… we couldn’t be more excited about what Saturday could hold for the club.”

Fremantle CBC has had an exceptional journey into finals this season, something the team and the club has worked towards over several years of determination and dedication.

“When we take a look back over the past four seasons, from 2022 through to 2025, our club is incredibly proud of the journey this Fremantle CBC Colts group has taken,” said Fremantle CBC Coach Dave Larsen. “Back in the 2022 season, we were sitting around the lower end of the table in both the Phill Scott and Brett Jones Colts competitions. Since then, the growth has been a big journey, and the results are beginning to come — not just on the field, but the culture we are building together is really beginning to show.”

Fremantle CBC has focused on improving its culture off the field to better support its players and teams this season, strengthening team relationships and establishing mental health programs to promote the health of its members. All of Fremantle CBC’s 55 Colts players participated in the Kai Fella sports program, a mental health initiative which focuses on mental health awareness by exploring emotions, honesty and vulnerability, and major progress was seen among individuals and the group alike.

“To look back at our performance growth, the 2024 season was a turning point. We strung together 12 wins and finished 4th, only to bow out of finals in heartbreaking fashion — a one-point loss in the wet against Trinity Aquinas,” Larsen explained. “As tough as that was, we could see the resilience growing in the group. That experience gave us belief and showed the boys that we weren’t far away.”

The team has pushed through three weeks of finals, earning its place in tomorrow’s Grand Final against University in what will be a nail-biting match between the two clubs.

“As a club watching these young men grow — not just as footballers, but as people. Their growth in resilience, commitment, and true belief in each other have set the foundation for Fremantle CBC Colts and seniors to be genuine contenders for years to come.”

Who to Watch

From University, players Matthew Turkich, Cuba Cellier and Will Parker are three to watch. Turkich, a second-year Colt and 2025 runner-up Best and Fairest for the division, is a dominant ruckman with great athleticism who can work over his opposition with brute strength and a superior leap.

“Cellier has made a seamless transition from being an intercepting half back with elite foot skills, to one of the competitions most dangerous two-way midfielders,” explained Morcombe. Even with a holiday and injury seeing Cellier miss several rounds this season, his deadly accuracy and presence in front of the goals saw him finish fourth in this season’s Best and Fairest count.

“Parker is one of the most consistent players that University has,” said Morcombe. “He plays the wing role exceptionally well and has gone forward and kicked 22 goals in the year. He’s fast, incredibly agile, and can jump on shoulders, as he demonstrated in this game last year. Two hangers in two consecutive Grand Final appearance is certainly not off the cards for Parker.”

From the Fremantle CBC bench, two-time Captain Sam Shale dans players Sam Johnston and Adam Osborne have been named as three to keep an eye on.

“In his second year as Captain of the FCBC Phil Scott Team, Sam has had a stellar year capped off by winning the Phil Scott Association Fairest and Best in 2025,” said Larsen. “His natural inside game with quality skills and leadership makes him a force for FCBC on the field, and he will be a player of the future in the PFL.”

Johnston has made a comeback after three years of injuries, and his renewed presence in the team and on the field has made with a notable player.

“He has showed incredible poise and skill for someone who missed so much footy,” said Larsen, “and after a very strong pre-season he earned himself an A Grade League Debut in round 7 on the wing against Ocean Ridge.”

Osborne celebrates his first year and first grand final match for Fremantle CBC this Saturday, and despite being a newcomer to the team, has had a huge impact.

“With a unique ability to play both inside and outside roles at a very high standard, Adam’s versatility has made him a major asset to FCBC this season,” Larsen explained. “His impact is obvious around the ground, and his work rate makes him a very difficult player for opposition teams to hold back.”

Catch the EGT Phil Scott Grand Final match between University and Fremantle CBC at HIF Health Insurance Oval this Saturday. Then, stick around for the Men’s A Reserves, followed by the Men’s A Grade Grand Finals.

If you can’t make it down to the game in person, make sure to catch it live on Streamer or download the PlayHQ App for live score updates!

By Kristina Oldfield