by Jim Gordon
Beulah v Woomelang Lascelles
If the first two semi finals are anything to go by, the Mallee Football League should expect a bumper crowd at Hopetoun this week to see Beulah take on Woomelang Lascelles in the Preliminary Final. The winner to go through to meet Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the Grand Final next week at Blackburn Park in Ouyen.
Beulah will be all out to regain lost pride after going down to the Tigers last week. They have yet to lose to the Cats this season, but Woomelang Lascelles will fancy themselves after accounting for the powerful Walpeup Underbool outfit in the First Semi Final.
All of a sudden the Preliminary Final takes on an unexpected level of importance as we have two sides that will be desperate for a chance to earn the right to have a crack at the Tigers and the 2013 MFL premiership flag.
Even though the Blues have accounted for the Cats three times this season, Woomelang Lascelles are getting closer, with the difference a meagre nine points in their last encounter. Finals football is another story.
Both teams bring good form to this game. Beulah has occupied a top two spot all year. Their first defeat was not until Round 10, they earned the double chance and they were by no means disgraced in losing to the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the Second Semi Final.
For the first two quarters Beulah stuck with the Tigers. It was tough and tight early with few goals scored. Beulah had as much of the play as Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the first half and they were more than competitive with the Tigers. The Blues tackled relentlessly and hunted in packs. In this half the Blues could have been closer than the half time margin of fifteen points, or even ahead, but for the play of Stephen Lyons at full back.
Kim Hallam will be a welcome return for Beulah this week and will most likely play in the ruck and across centre half back. Rory Shannon is also likely to return to the senior side after a successful comeback from an ankle injury in the reserves last week and will play across the half backline or he could even take a key position spot in defence. Shaun Monohan is another who is a chance to return from a calf injury.
Woomelang Lascelles are relatively injury free with the added bonus of the return from injury of lively midfielder Nyaburu Kelly. Jaydon Lonergan will be better for a couple of weeks of solid training and their running forwards such as Corey Kelly are in great touch.
Russ Gravestock medallist Trent Donnan will relish it tight and tough in close. In fact the Cats will be looking to play the same tough and hard running brand of football as they did in their good win against Walpeup Underbool. On that day two weeks’ ago their foot skills were up as was their attack on the ball. Woomelang Lascelles know that Beulah are always a tough side to play, especially in finals. The Blues have plenty of experience and players who love the big stage.
Brad Shannon was in great form for the Blues last week. He relentlessly put his body on the line in defence. Tim McIntosh played well on a wing. Ryan McKenzie and Micah Buchanan will need to be at their best in the middle to get Beulah on top at the clearances with Steph Saunders a threat to the Cats.
Beulah require big efforts from their forward half. Dennis Redden and Peter Lehmann will need to assert their authority at the contests. Callum Buchanan and Tyler Lehmann will be there to provide other avenues to goal.
This should be a great game between two sides that have plenty of finals history. The Cats have nothing to lose coming from fourth on the ladder. A Preliminary Final is already a great achievement.
The Blues will need to show the form that got them into the top two in this game. They will need to work hard and apply enormous amounts of pressure to stop the Cats run. Nevertheless, Beulah deserve to be favourites in this game. They have already accounted for Woomelang Lascelles three times this season, they have a match winning midfield lead by Callum Buchanan and Scott Smith and a forward half that can kick goals.
Last Modified on 07/09/2013 18:05
