WOORINEN and Swan Hill will meet at Cohuna tomorrow for the chance to progress to at least their second Central Murray Football Netball League senior grand final this decade.
Five-time defending premiers, Kerang await the winner in September 16’s decider, with the Tigers falling to the competition leaders by 21 points in last weekend’s second semi-final.
The Swans have faced elimination football during each week of the finals series, and progressed to the penultimate weekend of the season on Sunday thanks to a one-point win against the Mallee Eagles.
The Tigers – who are aiming to progress to their first grand final since 2012 – go into the match as strong favourites, having won six more games than the Swans during the home and away season, as well as having produced a 106-point win when the teams last met in round 10.
The Swans went into the late June encounter undermanned, with the likes of Xavier Moloney, Declan Foott and Declan Quin all not taking part in the game.
This trio will be pivotal to the Swans’ chances of playing Kerang in a grand final for the third time this decade, with Moloney and Matthew Wade to benefit from Foott’s work in the ruck.
Foott faces a challenge against Joel Donnan, with the Tiger tall to work alongside Jye Barry and Jason Iannucci in the middle of the ground.
If the Woorinen midfield can get the ball to Victor Siciliano and Doug Palmer – who combined for seven goals last weekend – then it will be Woorinen that will still be in the running for the premiership.
Swan Hill defenders, Thomas Corridan and Brendan Blackmore will have other ideas, and the pair will need to help the Swans get the ball to Mitchell Makepeace and Brenton Caldwell if an upset result is to occur.
PREDICTION: Woorinen will progress to the grand final thanks to a 30-point win.
LOCAL HOPES
• DEFENDING Central Murray Football Netball League reserves premiers, Koondrook/Barham will meet Nyah-Nyah West United tomorrow for the second time this finals series.
The Raiders lost to the Mallee Eagles by seven points in last weekend’s second semi-final, whilst the Demons – who finished second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season – ended Kerang’s campaign with a 25-point win.
The Demons won both encounters against the border side in the home and away season, but the border side produced a 44-point win in the qualifying final.
• KERANG’S under 14.5 side can join their senior counterparts as grand finalists with a win tomorrow against Lake Boga.
The Blues went down to competition leaders, Woorinen by 16 points in last Saturday’s second semi-final, with the Magpies producing a 12-point win against Balranald in the first semi-final.
Kerang holds a 2-1 record against Lake Boga, with the 2016 grand finalists recording a 16-point win in the qualifying final.
• ON the netball court, the Mallee Eagles go into the A Reserve preliminary final against Woorinen as underdogs.
The Lalbert-based side kept its season alive on Sunday with a 22-goal win against Tyntynder, but lost to the Tigers by nine goals in the qualifying final.
• THE Cohuna Kangas’ B Grade side faces a challenge against Swan Hill tomorrow.
The Kangas kept their season alive on Sunday, defeating Tyntynder by two goals in the first semi-final, whilst the Swans went down to the Mallee Eagles.
Swan Hill recorded a 19-goal win when the teams met in round four, with the Kangas prevailing by 11 goals in the last match between both sides in round 15.
• BOTH of the Cohuna Kangas’ 15 and Under sides will take to their home court tomorrow morning, with the 15 and Under team to take on Tyntynder.
The Kangas produced a 24-goal win against Swan Hill in Sunday’s first semi-final, with the Bulldogs going down to Koondrook/Barham by one goal.
Tyntynder won by 29 goals when the sides last met in round 10.
• IN the 15 and Under Reserve preliminary final, the Cohuna Kangas will look to snap a two-match losing streak when the side takes on Woorinen.
The Kangas lost to Tyntynder by 11 goals in last Saturday’s second semi-final – two weeks after losng to the Tigers by eight goals in the final round of the home and away season – with Woorinen keeping its premiership hopes alive with a one-goal win against Lake Boga in the first semi-final.
The Kangas won by 10 goals when the sides met in round 11.
