A FOURTH finals appearance in six seasons and home ground advantage could benefit Koondrook/Barham in tomorrow’s Central Murray Football Netball League qualifying final against Nyah-Nyah West United.
Both teams will aim to progress to a second semi-final showdown with four-time reigning premiers, Kerang next weekend, with the Raiders and Demons both recording wins against the Blues this year.
The Raiders have been one of the competition’s most consistent sides, only dropping three games this year – including a 68-point loss against the Demons in round nine.
“We were well beaten last time we met the Demons, and the guys want to go one better this time around,” Koondrook/Barham coach, Neil Bradley said.
Tomorrow’s match will be Nyah-Nyah West United’s first finals foray in more than a decade, with the team falling away from the battle for the minor premiership with three losses between rounds 13 and 16.
The Demons will be favoured to go into the match with the same side that defeated Tyntynder by 126 points last weekend, whilst ruckman, Rhett Sutton and utility, Lucas Matthews will come in for the Raiders.
Matthews’ inclusion will help the hosts’ efforts to contain Matthew Campbell and Jarrod Stokes, with Troy Rogers, Frazer Neate and Patrick Goble to also assist for the Raiders.
Sutton’s experience in playing key games for Rye in the Nepean Football League will assist, with his height to cause concerns for Campbell’s men.
Koondrook/Barham defenders Blake Chant and Daniel Mowat will need to stop Alex Erlandson and Daryl White from dominating in front of goal, with Jarrod Skinner and Joel Campbell needing to do the same in the Raiders’ forward line against Jay Reynolds and Tom Lamb.
“The Demons are an extremely high-scoring side that play a fast tempo brand of football, so we need to shut them down if we are to win,” Bradley said.
PREDICTION: Finals experience will help Koondrook/Barham win by 20 points.
OTHER LOCAL HOPES
• THE Cohuna Kangas will look to progress to a second match against reserves minor premiers, Koondrook/Barham next weekend with a win against Nyah-Nyah West United tomorrow.
Although finishing one win ahead of the Demons, the Kangas lost by 30 points when the sides met in round 11.
The loser of this match will play the winner of Sunday’s elimination final between Kerang and Woorinen in next weekend’s first semi-final.
• KERANG and Woorinen will meet for the second time in eight days tomorrow, with the sides to clash in the under 14.5 qualifying final.
The Blues recorded a 33-point win last weekend, adding to a 13-point win against the Tigers back in round seven.
The winner will play the undefeated Cohuna Kangas in next weekend’s second semi-final, with the loser facing a first semi-final encounter with the winner of Sunday’s elimination final between Koondrook/Barham and Lake Boga.
• IT will be a tight tussle between the Kerang and the Cohuna Kangas in tomorrow’s 15 and Under qualifying final – the only netball match that features local sides.
The Kangas – who are defending their premiership – won by 12 goals when the sides last met in round 15, with the Blues recording a five-goal win back in round four.
The winner will play Tyntynder in next weekend’s second semi-final, with the loser to face the victor of the Lake Boga v Koondrook/Barham match in the first semi-final.
