THIS season’s minor premiers and one of the top teams in the past four seasons will clash at Murrabit tomorrow for a spot in next month’s Golden Rivers Football League grand final.
Wandella and Ultima will meet in the league’s second semi-final, with little separating both teams at the end of the home and away season.
The Bombers and ‘Roos finished the season with 13-3 records, with Ultima’s three losses coming in the second half of the season.
Last season’s grand finalists were undefeated after nine rounds, but Wandella’s 45-point win against the ‘Roos in round nine began a period where Jack O’Rourke’s side lost to the league’s fellow top four sides.
Wandella all but secured a second semi-final spot in early August, but last weekend’s one-point loss to Murrabit means Paul Grayling’s side must find form quickly or face the winner of Sunday’s first semi-final match between Nullawil and the Blues at Hay next weekend.
The Bombers’ round 10 effort against Ultima not only atoned for a 12-point loss back in round five, but it also showed other sides how to defeat the four-time grand finalists.
The ‘Roos boast a strong midfield – led by Tom Bull and Mitchell Seton-Stewart – and numerous goalkicking options, highlighted by Ryan Devereux and Arnold Kirby.
However, thanks to the efforts of Grayling and Sam Sperling in the forward line, the Bombers were the second-highest scoring side in 2017, as well as boasting the second-lowest score against total this year.
Only two points separated the ‘Roos and Bombers in the points conceded category, with Brenton Pay and Lachlan Paull needing another dominant effort against Grayling and Sperling if Ultima are to progress to a fifth consecutive grand final.
The ruck duel between Kirby and Dylan McGrath will be a key element to the match, with Dillan Treacy and Sam Taylor needing to dominate in the midfield for the Bombers to produce their first finals win since the 2014 first semi-final.
PREDICTION: Wandella will secure its first grand final appearance since 2012 with a 20-point win.
Hopes on the line
THERE will be no second chances on Sunday when the Golden Rivers Football League’s in-form team and the side that produced the highest percentage in the competition meet in the first semi-final.
Despite winning its past eight matches, defending premiers, Murrabit go into Sunday’s game against Nullawil as underdogs thanks to the Maroons’ strong points for and points against record.
The Maroons were the only side this season to surpass 2000 points scored across its 16 games, whilst conceding less than 900 points.
The Blues – whose 1468 points for is the lowest of the four sides still in contention for the premiership – have not dropped a game since the club’s round nine loss against Wandella, becoming the first team since Macorna’s 2012 squad to go into a first semi-final having not lost a match since the midway point of the season.
Finals experience will benefit both sides, with the Maroons featuring in their ninth consecutive semi-final, whilst the Blues went all the way last year.
Four of the competition’s key forwards will help determine the outcome of this match.
Kal Heslop – who won the league’s goalkicking title with 80 goals in season 2017 – and Andrew Oberdorfer will lead the way for the Maroons, with Dylan Morison and Dain Hayes to be asked to stop the duo.
Down the other end of the ground, Nathan Henry and Justin McConnell will guide the Blues’ hopes, with Jarrod Kemp and Brett Barker to battle the pair.
The midfield battle will be a highlight, with Scott Mathiske, Daniel Watts and Kyle Doran to go up against last season’s premiership combination of Bryden Morison, Simon Morton and Sam Harvey.
The Blues’ 16-point win against the Maroons in round 11 showed the competition the side was still capable of challenging for a consecutive flag, but home ground advantage – evident in the Maroons’ 32-point win against Murrabit in round six – will help Nullawil progress to a second consecutive preliminary final.
PREDICTION: Nullawil will win by 30 points.
