Forestville Eagles (12-6, 4th) v Central District Lions (9-9, 5th), 6.30 pm @ Wayville

Centrals will go in with nothing to lose ahead of Saturday’s Elimination Final against Forestville at Wayville. 

This is the first time the Lions will feature in the post-season since 1996.

Led by Tony Moore for the first six rounds, Centrals won three of six, including a crucial one point win over sixth-placed South Adelaide in Round 1.

Ben Todd took over from there and did an equally fine job, with the Lions winning six of 12, two of which were against the finals-challengers North Adelaide.

The Eagles started the season slowly and did not look like recovering from the loss of 2010 Grand Final MVP Mia Newley to Tasmania, Kelsey Ireland to Norwood, and, perhaps the most significant, Jess Mahony to opponents Centrals.

Mahony (12.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 9.2 apg) has had her best season statistically and is every chance of winning her second Halls Medal.

Much of Forestville’s trouble was due to a lack of production at Point Guard, with Monica Bello (11.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.6 apg) not activated until Round 8, as well as an over-reliance on Jess Fergus (13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Georgia Minear (16.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.9 apg).

However, when Bello entered the line-up and the Eagles signed Carla Borrego (20.4 ppg, 10.9 rpg), Forestville turned the corner and very nearly pinched a spot in the top three.

The Eagles won 10 of their last 12, including a 72-66 win over the 17-1 Flames.

Along with Forestville’s star quartet, Alex Duncan (7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.4 apg), Jamie-Lee Bow (6.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg) and Tara Robinson (5.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.1 apg) should see significant minutes.

Besides Mahony, Alisha Heglund (15.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Kimberley Olsen (10.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 apg), Desinta Cummins (8.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4 apg), Fiona Perso (7.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Lisa Wilson (5.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) have been key contributors for Central Districts.

The Eagles have won both head-to-head meetings this season.

The first was in Round 8 at Starplex, Bello’s first game, where they got home 72-57.

In the match at Wayville in Round 17, Forestville won 74-66, with a 22-7 third quarter crucial.

Normally in this situation, with regular post-season participants going up against a ball club that is new to the idea, the regulars would have a massive advantage.

However, with Mahony at Centrals, the Eagles’ edge in experience is negated somewhat.

For Forestville, an Elimination Final exit would have to be considered a failed season for a team that has won the last two titles, so the pressure on the players’ shoulders will be at a maximum.

The Lions, on the other hand, have already accomplished more than could be imagined for a team that finished winless in 2010, and can feel relaxed ahead of this one.

Still, it should be the Eagles who win this game and move on to the First Semi-Final.

By James Woite