ELIMINATION finals pressure will be felt at Wandella tomorrow when the Bombers and Macorna battle for a Golden Rivers Football League semi-final berth.
Locked on eight wins each, the winner of tomorrow’s match at the Wandella recreation reserve will be on track to play in a first semi-final on August 20.
The hosts – who led the competition after round 10 – go into the match on the back of four consecutive losses, whilst the Tigers have won three of their past four games.
The Bombers’ run of losses includes a 16-point loss at Macorna in round 11, whilst the Tigers’ visit to Wandella in round four resulted in a 76-point loss.
Macorna missed the on-field leadership of Wayne Mitrovic on that day, and the Tigers are well placed to break a four-year hoodoo at Wandella.
Brett O’Hanlon and the Ladsons – Brad and Matt – will also give the visitors a fighting chance to take its finals battle to next weekend’s match against Hay.
Mitrovic will return to the back line tomorrow following an eight-goal effort in last weekend’s 92-point win against Quambatook to take on Wandella spearhead, Paul Grayling.
The Ladsons will battle with Greg Dickson and Justin Robinson, with Mick Bott to duel with O’Hanlon.
Ryan Lancaster’s defensive experience will come in handy to stop Macorna’s forward line, led by Jessi Lampi in the absence of Brett Collins, with the Bombers well placed to win for the first time since late June.
PREDICTION: Wandella will end Macorna’s finals hopes with a 20-point win.
Lions, Maroons seek wins
IN tomorrow’s other match that will impact on the finals race, Hay must defeat Nullawil at home to keep the club’s first semi-final hopes alive.
Last weekend’s seven point loss to Murrabit cost more than the four points for the Lions, with the club needing results to go their way to make the finals.
It is a different situation for the Maroons, with the club’s 38-point win against Wandella all but securing a final berth.
A loss at Hay tomorrow will see Nullawil equal with the Lions and the victor of the Wandella v Macorna match, but the Maroons host eighth-placed Moulamein in round 16.
A win will leave the Maroon third on the ladder and capable of claiming a double chance if Murrabit defeats Ultima in round 16.
The Lions boast one of the tallest sides in the competition, led by ruckman Tim Hanna, utility Jackson Ferguson and swingman Justin Ellis.
If this trio dominate play like Hanna and Ferguson did early in last weekend’s loss at Murrabit, Hay will increase its recent record against the Maroons to three wins in their last six meetings.
Nullawil coach, Scott Mathiske, Kyle Doran and Daniel Watts will have other ideas, with Kal Heslop looming as a key forward target for the visitors.
Hay coach, Simon Bunyan will probably move from the forward line to defence to take on Heslop, with Ellis best suited to match up against the Maroons’ centre half-forward, Andrew Oberdorfer.
Jarrod Kemp and Nick Williams will patrol the visitors’ back line, but the Lions boast numerous goalkicking options, thanks to Taylor Williamson and Ricki Waters.
Hay won by 15 points when these sides met at the New South Wales venue in round two, with the Maroons winning by 30 points in a wet round nine encounter.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by 10 points.
Minor title goal
MURRABIT can be one step closer to the club’s first minor premiership in five seasons with a win at Moulamein tomorrow.
The Blues are one win and 11 per cent ahead of reigning premiers, Ultima, but both sides will clash in the final round of the season.
Murrabit came from 45 points down to defeat Hay last weekend, whilst the Swans went down to the ‘Roos by 102 points.
The midfield battle between Murrabit’s Bryden Morison and Swans recruit, Xavia Elford will be a highlight, but this is where the similarities between the teams will end.
Although boasting the likes of captain Ben Booth, utility Brendan Blackmore, the youthful skills of Austin Mertz and the defensive knowledge of Tony Mudge, Moulamein will not be able to stop Murrabit’s playmakers.
Nathan Henry and Nathan Brown will dominate in the visitors’ forward line, Andrew Spitty will control the ruck and Nick Hein will return to the defensive third of the ground.
Murrabit won by 152 points when these teams met in round four, with the Swans challenging the Blues in round 11 before the competition leaders prevailed by 47 points in round 11.
PREDICTION: Murrabit will win by 80 points.
No grand final rematch
ULTIMA’S final home game of the season, occurring tomorrow against Quambatook, will be the third time this season the 2015 grand finalists have met.
The ‘Roos hold a 2-0 record against the Saints this season, with the margin on both occasions being between 16 points in round five and 73 points three weeks ago.
A repeat of the round 12 result will help Ultima’s hopes of making the second semi-final, especially if Nullawil loses at Hay.
Last weekend’s 102-point win against Moulamein boosted the reigning premiers’ percentage, but another big win tomorrow will be beneficial to gain an advantage going into a round 16 match against Murrabit.
If Jacob Schaper can lead the home side’s midfield against Gregor Knight and Luke Jackson, Ultima’s forward line, led by Basil Althouse and Ryan Devereux, could have a day out.
However, if Ash Davis and Luke Parker can contain Ultima’s forwards, the visitors could be in with a chance to end their eight-match losing streak.
The Saints will also need to find multiple goalkickers for this to occur – a difficult prospect when Ultima boasts two of the competition’s best defenders in Nathan Condely and Luke Kelson.
PREDICTION: Ultima will win by 70 points.
