Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers won the minor premiership and the right to Mallee Football League flag favouritism with a comprehensive thrashing of second placed Beulah at Sea Lake two week’s ago. They have had a week off and have prepared well for this week’s highly anticipated Second Semi Final against Beulah at Underbool. Both sides have the utmost respect for each other and both will be desperate for a pathway that leads straight into the MFL Grand Final at Ouyen in two weeks time.
Beulah has won twice against the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers this season, but it is the Tigers who will be short priced favourites after their big win in the final home and away game of the 2013 season. The Tigers will field their strongest team for the year, they have an even spread of experience and talent all over the field and they will leave nothing in the tank as they try and make their third grand final in a row and their fourth in five years.
A barometer to the outcome of the game will be the performance of the two key forwards, Cliff Ryan for the Tigers and Dennis Redden for the Blues. Ryan finished second on the MFL goal kicking table and Redden fourth. It is the depth of the Sea Lake Nandaly forward line that puts the Tigers ahead.
Lead by Cliff Ryan, the Tigers have a very potent forward line. Simon Weekley, Matt Elliott, Nathan Wight and Andy Roberts are all capable of kicking multiple goals. Sam Martin and Andrew Bell will most likely get the tasks on Weekly and Ryan.
The Blues rely heavily on Dennis Redden in their forward half. He will need to have a big game with Luke Martin possibly get the role of limiting his goal scoring. Stephen Lyons can be used in a key position role in defence if needed. Lyons has been in match winning form lately.
The Blues’ forward half will be strengthened with the likely return of Tyler and Peter Lehmann. If Beulah do not get any big man support for Redden, they will have to rely on the likes of Micah and Callum Buchanan to supplement his contribution.
The battle of the midfield will be a key to the game. Dan McEwan up against Steph Saunders, the Buchanans versus Wes Harrison, Jason Collins and Darcy Ryan and the old stagers in Col Durie and Scott Smith fronting up for yet another tilt at a flag. There are many tantalising matchup s in this contest.
Beulah’s Tim McIntosh has been in great form on the wing and could prove to be a big difference in this game. His long straight kick to position regularly positions Beulah deep inside their own 50m and is vital for them to be able to get the ball and score quickly.
Brad Shannon and Kim Hallam could possibly return for the Blues. Their experience and skills will be invaluable in the frantic pace of finals football. Hallam is needed to back up the Beulah on ball brigade with his height and strength.
After the earlier games this season, you would expect that this should also be a close and tough encounter. However, so comprehensive was the Tigers’ previous win, that they deserve to be clear favourites this time around. Expect a tough game early, but it will be Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers who will go straight through to the 2013 MFL Grand Final.
by Jim Gordon
Last Modified on 31/08/2013 19:31
