A GRAND final spot will be on the line tomorrow when the Golden Rivers Football League’s competition leaders meet in the second semi-final at Macorna.
Minor premiers, Murrabit will take on two-time reigning premiers, Ultima in what shapes to be another close encounter between the sides.
Ultima holds a 3-0 record against the Blues this year, thanks to a 20-point win in round three and two epic encounters at Murrabit in rounds 10 and 16.
A Callan Farrell goal after the siren gave the ‘Roos a five-point win in round 10, with Ultima holding on for a one-point win two weeks ago.
“Both teams are pretty even when it comes to depth. Both sides may not have a lot of star players, but have pretty strong bottom four to five players,” Ultima coach, Jack O’Rourke said.
“Some of our best football this season has been played against Murrabit”
Tomorrow’s match will be the Blues’ first finals appearance since its 2012 preliminary final loss to Wandella, with the club recording its best win-loss record since 2011.
“Tomorrow’s place in the finals is a reward for effort for those who have been around since then and those who believed in where the club was heading and joined over the journey,” Blues coach, Nathan Henry said.
“The reserves have won two premierships in that time also, so it’s not as if the club has struggled.”
The competition leaders will make at least two changes to its side that lost in the round 16 encounter, with forward, Leigh McCombe and utility, Joel Cross to come back into the team.
Ultima will go into the game unchanged, with the side taking last weekend off to refresh for the finals
Both sides feature players that can influence the result if given the chance to.
The battle between Henry and Nathan Condely in Murrabit’s forward line will determine how the minor premiers perform, with recent Blues recruit, Nathan Brown to face a challenge from Luke Kelson.
Down the other end of the ground, Basil Althouse will be pivotal in his first GRFL final, and faces the challenge of getting the ball whilst having fellow GRFL finals debutante, Dylan Morison alongside him.
If Althouse, who has kicked seven goals in his three matches against the Blues, is contained, it will be up to Ryan Devereux and Kyle Symons to get the ball in front of goal from Mirrabit defenders Simon Ettershank and Nick Hein.
Andrew Spitty’s height will help Murrabit in the ruck against Stewart Broussard, whilst the midfield tussle between Murrabit’s Bryden Morison and Ultima’s Jacob Schaper will be one of the highlights of the day.
However, experience will be the difference between the two sides, with Ultima’s depth to be too much for Murrabit.
PREDICTION: Ultima will win by 20 points.
RESERVES – Grand final rematch
MURRABIT will aim to progress to a second successive grand final when the reigning premiers meet the team it defeated to claim the reserves premiership, Macorna, in tomorrow’s second semi-final.
The Blues go into the match as strong favourites, with the side’s sole loss of the season coming against the Tigers at Macorna when the hole side recorded a six-point win.
The Blues prevailed by 67 points when the teams last met in round 12, with the Tigers winning their past four matches.
Stephen Randall looms as a key player to the Blues’ hopes, with the forward kicking 52 goals during the home and away season, but has not fired against the Tigers.
Chris Wilson – who was the Tigers’ equal leading goalkicker in the seniors last year- will be just as pivotal for the hosts.
PREDICTION: Murrabit will progress to the grand final with a 10-point victory.
UNDER 17.5 – Second grand final?
ULTIMA will go into tomorrow’s under 17.5 second semi-final against Hay as favourites to convert its minor premiership into a second consecutive grand final spot.
The ‘Roos finished two wins clear of the Lions after the end of the home and away season, and recorded the highest percentage (456.67 per cent) out of any side in the league’s four grades.
Last season’s grand finalists recorded a 106-point win against the Lions at home in round six, before prevailing by three points in round 13.
The goalkicking duel between Hay’s Ben Arandt and Ultima’s Billy Delmenico will be one of the highlights of the match, but travel will be a factor that will hurt the young Lions side.
PREDICTION: Ultima will progress to the grand final thanks to a 30-point win.
UNDER 14s – Close contest for leaders
HOME ground advantage could play a pivotal role in the under 14s second semi-final between Macorna and Hay.
Although the Tigers’ only defeat of the season occurred against the Lions when the sides met two weeks ago, the minor premiers defeated the reigning premiers by 23 points when the sides first met at the Macorna Recreation Reserve in round three.
The other meeting between the sides resulted in a draw at Hay, meaning another close encounter could be possible tomorrow.
Zeb Ellwood will be a key player in the Tigers’ forward line, with Fergus Cattanach to play a similar role for the Lions.
PREDICTION: Macorna will win by six points.
