Heartache and joy ring in the gotafe GVFL finals series starting on Saturday.
Heartache for the fact, Benalla ace Will MARTINELLO will not be in the Saints team on Saturday to meet Shepparton Swans in the qualifying final at Mansfield and joy in the fact Rochy full forward, Grant WEEKS has a chance to build on his 101 goals for the season.
It is a crying shame; the talented Saints midfielder has to miss the finals through injury because he is one of the best players in the league and was best on ground in the GVFL’s win against Ballarat in the AFL Victoria Country Championships win at Deakin Reserve in May.
He is a super young bloke in a super team, who will poll well along with his coach and last year’s Morrison Medal, Luke MORGAN in this year’s Morrison.
All I can say to Will on behalf of GVFL followers, we hope you have a speedy recovery and the Saints go marching in for you, your family and Benalla supporters on grand final day on Sunday, September 28 at The D.
The MARTINELLO's have had their share of ups and downs this year what with Will turning on a blinder in the inter-league game, his dad “Shorty” collapsing while umpiring a reserves game at Rochester and being bought back to life and now this latest catastrophe.
To miss playing in a winning grand final side when you have contributed so much to the team would be the ultimate disappointment.
Having said that the Saints still have to get over the Swans on Saturday and keep alive their chance of winning the flag and becoming the league’s first champions and premiers.
Swans coach Brett WARBURTON must be wondering what he has to do to get the best out of his side and win their first flag since 1970.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, the Swans have the players to win the flag but they lack consistency which can be contributed to some of these players being hot and cold. On Saturday, the Swans will need to go all the way or they will head back to Shepp with their wings flipped and the prospects of going out of the finals in straight sets.
In the elimination at Tatura on Saturday, reigning premiers Kyabram take on Mooroopna who put up an amazing effort at The D last Saturday to make the finals. The Bombers showed on Saturday night at Ky they are all set to go into the finals at their best and win back to back flags for the first time in 85 years. They last achieved this feat in 1927-28.
The Cats will be chockfull of confidence after their great win against the Demons but I doubt if it will be enough against a full strength Kyabram.
On Sunday at Rochy, Tatura take on Rochy in another elimination final and the way theTigers are playing, they will advance to the next round of the finals series. The Bulldogs were disappointing to say the least at Ky and Saturday night while the Tigers have hit a purple patch with WEEKS booting 14 goals last Saturday and looking for another big bag on Sunday to advance their cause.
This is the form Tiger supporters and observers have been waiting for all season and like the AFL Tigers, they are on the prowl.
Publicity Officer, Noel Hussey
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 19:33