SECOND SEMI FINAL DAY – SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER
Nyora knocked over the Warragul Industrials in both home and away encounters. In round 5 by five points and in round 15 by 18 points. The Saints lost its last game and only its second loss for the season but one thinks its focus in the last round was more fixated on the 2nd Semi-Final.
Their opponents Longwarry were very impressive in last Saturday’s qualifying final. Its midfield led by Russell Lehman, Brody Rundell, Danny Wells and Jake Delphine regularly cut a swathe through the Dusties defence. Their midfield strength is such that it allowed Riley Rundell to play forward and with four majors last week he also wreaked havoc with his pace. In their round 15 encounter the Nyora midfield eclipsed the Longwarry on ball brigade. On that day the Crows failed to man up and let too many Saints run free. From all reports tall Nyora forward Ben Schultz has recovered from a compound fracture of his thumb but the Saints have a big doubt over the fitness of Dylan Heylen. Nonetheless on the basis that Nyora has been able to continually rise to the occasion this season it will enter marginal favourites.
The reserves clash should be a ripping match. In round 2 the Dusties inflicted the Crows only loss and Longwarry got revenge in round 11 when it brought about Warragul’s first only defeat. Big Crow Ryan Wouters along with Braydon Munroe, Ric Salce and the experienced Glen Browney have all played a big role all season and likewise Damien Mullen, Scott Lindsay and Scott Blaney who will regularly feed a very capable forward line led by Joel Crowther, Sam Davies and crumber Jai Jose.
In the U18s the undefeated Neerim South has been a cut above the pack all year. Rhys George, Cooper Clancy and Josh White look terrific long-term senior prospects in a very well-balanced unit. Expect Catani though to give a lot of cheek. Kiam Rose, Liam Adams and Lachlan Seppings have shown plenty in and around the midfield this year and the strong bodied Jason Cox offers plenty of resistance behind the centre.
For those to get to Darnum early for the U16s it worth keeping an eye on Braydon Hefford, Harrison Perry, Darcy Whelan and Luke Kinder in the Dusties colours and rover Bailey Stephens, forward Angus Adamiak and half back Bailey Osseweyer in the Crows outfit.
Selections
U/16s – NYORA v Longwarry
U/18s – Warragul Industrials v LONGWARRY
RESERVES – NEERIM SOUTH v Catani
SENIORS – WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v Longwarry
FIRST SEMI FINAL DAY – SUNDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER
It was an all too familiar scenario for Dusties supporters last week – another finals loss. Prior to last week it has made a finals appearance eight times over the last 10 years but without winning a flag - although to cut it some slack it was desperately unlucky to lose last years grand final by a solitary point. Last Sunday was Poowong’s first final appearance since 2007. Warragul were good in patches last week but when it was on top it could not put pressure on the scoreboard. Disappointingly it was outscored in all four quarters and got run over in the last term. It is a given that 2018 Lang Lang Golf Club MVP Tyson Bale, Shane Brewster and Tye Holland will perform but the Dusties will need to find a few more avenues to goal if it is to keep its flag chances alive. Poowong ball magnets Jack Hazendonk and Tim Wyatt were outstanding last Sunday and its half back line of Jayden Sullivan, Alex Doria and Jai Newcombe often proved a stumbling block for Catani in defence. After missing last week key forward Ben Hancock - who has endured hamstring problems all season must surely be doubtful again. Momentum is a big thing and having won seven games in a row it is hard not to select the Magpies.
In the reserves Ellinbank will meet Catani. When they last met in round 16 the Eagles won comfortably by 57 points. This time around the Blues will have Luke McFarlane and John Traynor return and the later along with another tall Vaughn Campbell who was terrific last week should ensure Catani win their fair share of the ruck contests and stoppages to be competitive. For the Bankers late season recruit Ben Drew has proved handful for all defences and with the experience of Kristian Bingham, Neale Parke and Mark Johnson the Bankers will be hard to toss.
Led by Marko Kulas in the ruck division, agile forward Flynn O’Reilly and midfielders Chad Hall and Kyan Willis Buln Buln will enter the popular elect against Poowong in the U18s. Not that the Lyrebirds will get their own way because in centreman Josh McNally and defenders Jye Loughridge, Ash Schmidt and Mitchell Van’t Hof the Magpies will provide plenty of resistance down back.
Sunday’s program will kick off with Poowong and Ellinbank at U16 level. On this season’s form expect Magpies midfielder Tan Derrick along with forwards Hayden Wallis and Alex Henshall and key defender Kyle Loveridge to be prominent again while for the Eagles Corey Garlick and Ryan Atherton should provide plenty of drive, Samuel Pratt a good forward target and Matthew Dare should repel plenty of the Magpies attacks.
Selections
U/16s – Warragul Industrials v POOWONG
U/18s – ELLINBANK v Catani
RESERVES – BULN BULN v Poowong
SENIORS = POOWONG v Ellinbank
Last Modified on 29/08/2018 18:22
