A WET deck will make it a day for the brave at Boyer Oval today when unbeaten New Norfolk takes on would-be assassin Dodges Ferry in the SFL qualifying final.
New Norfolk coach Anthony McConnon has torn a page out of the coaching manual of St Kilda and Hawthorn premiership coach Allan Jeans for today's conflict.
``The side that goes in and gets it, and puts its head over the ball, gets up and wins,'' McConnon said yesterday.
``That was a big theme of Alan Jeans coaching in his day -- the side that wants it the most wins.
``I'll be demanding our boys put their head over the ball and don't stand back.''
New Norfolk sailed through the SFL season undefeated and on top of the ladder all the way.
McConnon said this did not happen by accident.
``The boys are hard at it. They are prepared to put their bodies on the line,'' he said. ``It's something our boys do on a regular basis, it's a New Norfolk trait, and we'll be making sure they do it again this week.''
Dodges Ferry was the best of the rest in the home-and-away series, finishing second with only three losses -- to New Norfolk, Lindisfarne and Kingborough.
The Sharks put up a good fight on home turf against New Norfolk in a wet round 10 encounter, but went down by 51.
McConnon expects Dodges Ferry to raise the bar for the qualifying final.
``We finished on top of the ladder, but now the real season has started,'' McConnon said.
``It's a whole new ball game come finals time and no doubt Dodges Ferry will lift their workrate and we've got to go with that and hopefully get over the line.
``If that's by five points, so be it. We've just got to make sure we proceed to next week.''
New Norfolk tweaked its line-up by bringing in experienced finals campaigner Leigh Post for his 200th senior game.
The Sharks believe they have nothing to lose.
``That's always going to be the case against a team that's been undefeated, any club would have the same approach,'' Dodges Ferry coach Danny Ling said.
``No one expects Dodges to win, but we'll go out there and give it our best shot.
``We've won our last seven, we're playing pretty good footy, so we've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.''
Lindisfarne, which finished second on the ladder, is favourite to win its second elimination final over Claremont at Anzac Park.
The Two Blues lost their last three roster games and need to regain their form against the unpredictable Pies.
Kingborough is on a six-game winning streak, but the Tigers will have their hands full against the Central Hawks in their first elimination final at Kingston.
IMAGE CAPTION: UNDEFEATED:New Norfolk coach Anthony McConnon.
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