LAKE Boga and Swan Hill will resume their finals rivalry at Woorinen on Saturday, with last year’s grand finalists playing off for the right to be the first team through to this year’s decider.
There is little doubt that both clubs have been at the top of their game this season, with the Magpies going through the home-and-away season undefeated and Swan Hill beating all bar their rivals.
That game came all the way back in round 8, when a 25-13 second half saw Lake Boga run away with a 16-goal win.
Since that afternoon, however, Swan Hill have been a dominant force, winning their past 10 games by an average margin of 24 goals.
While it could be said that game was the catalyst for the Swans taking their game to another level, it’s also a moment that Swan Hill looked at their own game and the areas they needed to improve, according to co-coach Madeleine Nalder.
“We’ve reflected on the things that we didn’t do well and the areas we need to get better at and we’ve done that since that loss (to Lake Boga),” Nalder told The Guardian this week.
“It was a long time since we last played them and we’ve addressed a few things in the back half of the year, but the proof will be in the pudding come Saturday.
“We’re really looking forward to the challenge. (Lake) Boga have been the benchmark, not only for this season, but for the last few seasons really.
“When we played them earlier in the year, they really dominated from the second quarter onwards, so we’re looking forward to seeing how we match up on them this time around.”
That sentiment that didn’t sit comfortably with Lake Boga coach Anne-Marie Stewart, with the pressure instead being on the reigning premiers rather than the minor premiers.
“Our girls are all excited and looking forward to Saturday, but I’m getting a bit tired of everyone saying we’re the benchmark team and we’re the favourites to be fair,” Stewart said.
“I don’t think we’re the favourites. (Swan Hill) are the reigning premiers and it’s us chasing them if anything.
“They hold the title and until we beat them, they still will.
“They’re the favourites as far as I’m concerned, they’ve won just as many games as us and beaten some really good teams and by big margins. They beat Balranald convincingly during the season and we’ve only played once this year.
“I think it’s been pretty competitive between all the top teams and I think there is a lot of rivalry brewing between all the top teams this season.
“Every time we have played one of the top teams, be it Balranald, Swan Hill or the Eagles, the games have been like a final. Our last game (against Mallee Eagles) was certainly like that.
“They might be the reigning premiers, but we’re after them, both teams are on a par and I’m certain it will be a good game between two very even teams.”
Although having met just once this season, the two clubs know each other intimately, with the sides clashing in two classic finals encounters – including the grand final – last season. Stewart is a former Swan Hill coach.
The teams appear evenly matched across the court as well. Both teams defensive thirds are as strong as any in the competition, while possessing powerful goaling combinations.
Casey Frame and Zoe Morris worked their magic against Balranald last Saturday despite tricky conditions, but will face a bigger test opposed to the Peacock sisters and Jemma Meehan, with Sophie Peacock likely to get first crack at quelling Swans shooter Morris.
But it’s at the other end of the court where the match could well be decided, according to Nalder, with the Swan Hill coach hopeful her team can disrupt the Magpies’ ball movement enough to counteract the danger that faces them in Lake Boga’s circle.
“It’s no secret that with two tall goalers in the Hepburn sisters that (Lake Boga) can score easily,” Nalder said.
“We’ll be looking to limit them and apply as much pressure as we can, just with pressure on the ball and not allowing it to go one-two into goal.
“It will come back to applying pressure across the whole court and at the same time making sure we’re composed with the ball ourselves, because it’s not just about shutting them down but about our ability to score as well.
“(Sarah Hepburn and Katie Carmichael are) definitely a focal point, because they can score easily, but we’ll also be focusing on what we need to do as well.”
Tip – Lake Boga to win by two goals.
