It is the third consecutive year the VPL showdown will be held at the stadium following on from Green Gully v Oakleigh Cannons in 2011 and Dandenong Thunder v Oakleigh last year.

The game will take place as a curtain-raiser to Melbourne Heart’s A-League encounter against the Central Coast Mariners, similar to last year when it was played after Heart’s first home game of the season against Wellington Phoenix.

The Greens mentor spoke of how important it was for the final to be played at one of the best stadiums in Australia.

“It really makes a player feel special playing somewhere like this,” Anastasiadis said.

“In the VPL it’s a tough gig. There’s a lot of grounds that are not up to scratch at times, it’s not their fault sometimes it’s the weather and all that sort of stuff.

“A lot of clubs are trying to maintain their facilities at the highest standard possible so they can get the best out of their players.

“To come to something like this for a final is very fitting and very rewarding.

“Just walking on this magnificent stadium - I wish I was 10 years or 12 years younger again.

“It’s great motivation for the boys to come here on Saturday and produce a really good game of football.”

Despite finishing third on the table, Bentleigh were the first side to qualify for the Grand Final after getting past Melbourne Knights and then Northcote.

Ryan de Vries was the star in their semi-final win against Northcote, notching up a brace in the 2-1 extra time victory.

Northcote then had to play South Melbourne, who knocked out the Knights in front of almost 5,000 fans at Somers St the week before. It ended in a 5-0 win to City and confirmed a place in their first ever Grand Final as well.

The 45-year old Anastasiadis is wary of his opponents, who have been the most consistent and highest scoring side in the competition this season.

“We know this week they’ll be totally different and we know that Northcote have been the benchmark this year,” he added.

“We believe that both teams and both sets of players will produce the best football possible.

“There’s no doubts that Northcote’s front three are very good. Milos Lujic has been excellent all throughout the year.

“Around the park, without putting someone as better than the others, I think the whole 11-14 players are quite good.

“They defend very well with numbers and watching the game against South Melbourne they defended exceptionally well when they were under the pump a little bit.

“It’s a credit to them and I think they deserve to be in the final.”

It is the third consecutive year the VPL showdown will be held at the stadium following on from Green Gully v Oakleigh Cannons in 2011 and Dandenong Thunder v Oakleigh last year.

The game will take place as a curtain-raiser to Melbourne Heart’s A-League encounter against the Central Coast Mariners, similar to last year when it was played after Heart’s first home game of the season against Wellington Phoenix.

The Greens mentor spoke of how important it was for the final to be played at one of the best stadiums in Australia.

“It really makes a player feel special playing somewhere like this,” Anastasiadis said.

“In the VPL it’s a tough gig. There’s a lot of grounds that are not up to scratch at times, it’s not their fault sometimes it’s the weather and all that sort of stuff.

“A lot of clubs are trying to maintain their facilities at the highest standard possible so they can get the best out of their players.

“To come to something like this for a final is very fitting and very rewarding.

“Just walking on this magnificent stadium - I wish I was 10 years or 12 years younger again.

“It’s great motivation for the boys to come here on Saturday and produce a really good game of football.”

Despite finishing third on the table, Bentleigh were the first side to qualify for the Grand Final after getting past Melbourne Knights and then Northcote.

Ryan de Vries was the star in their semi-final win against Northcote, notching up a brace in the 2-1 extra time victory.

Northcote then had to play South Melbourne, who knocked out the Knights in front of almost 5,000 fans at Somers St the week before. It ended in a 5-0 win to City and confirmed a place in their first ever Grand Final as well.

The 45-year old Anastasiadis is wary of his opponents, who have been the most consistent and highest scoring side in the competition this season.

“We know this week they’ll be totally different and we know that Northcote have been the benchmark this year,” he added.

“We believe that both teams and both sets of players will produce the best football possible.

“There’s no doubts that Northcote’s front three are very good. Milos Lujic has been excellent all throughout the year.

“Around the park, without putting someone as better than the others, I think the whole 11-14 players are quite good.

“They defend very well with numbers and watching the game against South Melbourne they defended exceptionally well when they were under the pump a little bit.

“It’s a credit to them and I think they deserve to be in the final.”

Match details:
What: Victorian Premier League Grand Final
Who: Bentleigh Greens v Northcote City
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
When: 1pm kick-off