The Cougars squandered their early domination in possession in last week’s first half against the Tigers by not converting up forward and as everyone knows in finals football you must take your chances. I’m sure they have worked hard on their conversion throughout the week as a similar scorecard today will more than likely be the undoing of the Cougars in a season which has promised so much throughout the home and away season.
The upside for the Cougars in this game is that the Bombers have not beaten them this season and remain the only club that the Bombers haven’t scored a win against. The downside is the loss of one of their leaders in Paul Kupke. Kupke’s influence in the middle and around the ground has been one of the catalyst’s behind the Cougars success this year which has included a 10 game winning streak broken only last week by the Tigers.
For the Bombers it’s been an up and down season. A very slow start had many predicting that the 2008-9 Grand Finalists would not even make the top 4 but a good return of form through the middle to late part of the year has seen them bounce back to some of the form that took them to the 2008 Premiership.
The Souths line up has a similar look to that team of 2008 with Webb and the Zilm brothers at Full Forward / CHF. Trent Saxelby and Matthew Englart in the middle, Leon Bennet at Full back and Robbie Miller as a sweeping half back flanker there are definitely ball winners across the paddock for the Bombers.
For the Cougars small forward / on baller Jarryd McCarthy has been in super form through the later stages of the season while bullocking midfielder Tim Loch was best on ground the last time these teams met back in round 13. Add the run and class of midfielder Heath Gniel and the finishing ability of veteran full forward Matt Croft to the list and you have a team capable of beating anyone on its day.
With a loss signalling no tomorrow for both sides expect to see a game filled with ruthless determination, predictions are this one will go the distance
Last Modified on 04/10/2010 15:01
