FINE TUNING FOR FINALS
By Louie Bulzomi
With both Semi-Finals set in stone, the participants will use this last home and away round to settle their squads for their respective attempts at premiership glory.
As for the non-participants, there is still plenty of pride to play for.
Nangiloc will hope for enough troops to prevent back-to-back forfeits and face Cardross at home in one last fight to avoid a winless season.
Continual losses, serious injuries and player unavailability have decimated the Demons so much that only 12 players could pull the boots on last week, fuelling speculation about a mid-2000’s recess relapse. But if what President Craig Parker said during the week is anything to go by, the Demons will return bigger, stronger and injury-free in 2013.
Hopefully Nangiloc can take the field today; especially considering Ben Crosbie, Ben Mansell, Cameron Peters, Jared Turvey and Luke Collett are all still chances to win various League awards.
The Lions’ contender credibility has been underlined after taking care of Bambill and dutifully responding to Euston’s last ditch challenge. So with good form heading into the finals, what is now needed is for the likes of Jason Cox, Scott Richards, Cameron Berry, Chris Prevedello and Ben Aworth to continue showcasing the extra strings to Cardross’s bow.
Euston will travel to Carramar Drive attempting to end the season just like they started it against Gol Gol.
The Bombers’ season officially faded into obscurity last week after beginning with plenty of promise. So if they were to head into this clash feeling dejected and empty, then it would be understandable. But if you think that the likes of Toby Quirk-Meeks, Joseph Denaro, Josh Healy, Ian Mennie, Anthony McMahon and Phil Connell are going to tolerate a dejected and empty performance to finish the year, then think again. There’s nothing like a win to ease the pain, so expect Euston to fire up one more time.
While the use of excuses is definitely not something Gol Gol abides by, it’s fair to say that the absences of Sonny Lindsey and Tim Vandenberg in their close loss to Bambill last week would make for acceptable exceptions. So with those two to slot back in, the Hawks should be as strong as they’ve been all season as they plan to announce their premiership bid by making an emphatic statement today.
In the match of the round, minor premiers Werrimull and reigning premiers Bambill lock horns at Lake Cullulleraine.
An unexpected ‘bye’ has given the Magpies an important advantage on the eve of the finals. Although the circumstances that caused it were unfortunate (as mentioned earlier), the opportunity for the likes of Ryan Tierney, Andrew Seaton-Stewart, Matt Kelly, Chris McGregor, Jamie Russell, Aaron Milner and Paul Jenkins to freshen up and overcome any niggles has been golden as Werrimull aims to strengthen their flag favouritism and not suffer a repeat of last year’s hampered run into the Grand Final.
Leigh McIntyre’s return to the Saints’ line-up last week was a raging success. Adding his presence up forward alongside David Hall, Luke Stanbrook and Michael Hickey should ensure that Bambill will provide an even more formidable challenge for opposition defences going forward. And with the Magpies ranked number one in scores against this season, there’s no better chance for the Saints to test the real formidability of this combination than today.
While it should be tight, Werrimull’s expected fresher legs could be the difference in this one.
Last Modified on 18/08/2012 09:01