Modern day rivals Maffra and Traralgon will open the TRFM Gippsland League’s finals series, in a highly anticipated qualifying final at Moe on Saturday.
The Eagles finished second on equal points, but trailing Leongatha on percentage, while the Maroons snuck under the radar to finish just a game behind the pair, in third.
“We have only lost three games since round one, we’ve been rewarded with third and the second chance, but it all starts again now,” said Traralgon coach Mark Collison.
Fresh from a heart-stopping win over the Eagles just a fortnight ago, Traralgon is full of confidence and in good form.
“We have got a bit of confidence up, we are playing good footy and we have got Maffra again,” Collison said.
And the Maroons are well rested, having left seven of its stars out of last weekend’s round 18 match against Warragul.
“We were fortunate to have third spot tied up and were able to rest a few blokes,” Collison said.
Ben Amberg, Tim Johnston, Matt Lewellin and Dylan Loprese are all expected to return to the lineup, as is Jordy Symons who made a successful return to the game from injury in the reserves last week.
“We struggled early in the year with injuries, but it gave us the opportunity to play around 40 players, our depth has been excellent and there is going to be a real pressure on for spots,” Collison said.
Traralgon’s win over Maffra a fortnight ago, broke the Eagles eight game-winning streak over the Maroons, which dates back to 2011.
“We’ve had some good battles with them, we lost by four points and then we got them the second time, but the boys should be confident that our best is more than good enough,” Collison said.
The challenge at hand hasn’t been lost on Maffra coach Wayne Butcher.
“Traralgon have got over the top of us last time, they are in good form and it is a huge game for us,” he said.
“You never know in finals it’s 50/50. We beat them once and they have beaten us once,” Butcher said.
The Eagles will be bolstered by the inclusion of experienced finals campaigners Ben Coleman and Brent Connelly.
While Maffra has something it was missing last year.
“It is good to have the second chance, especially this year. Any side in the finals can beat the other on their day, it’s been like that all year,” Butcher said.
Traralgon hasn’t beaten Maffra in a final since its memorable grand final win a decade ago in 2005, which saw the Maroons shock the Eagles and break its unbeaten run of 45 straight.
However it’s Maffra that has had the upper hand since; it’s won its past three finals against Traralgon, including the 2009 grand final with a kick after the siren and by six points in the 2010 2nd Semi Final.
The winner of Saturday’s match will take on Leongatha for the chance to play in the TRFM Gippsland League grand final.
This weekend the minor premier enjoys a well-earned week off.
“I think we will benefit from it,” said coach Beau Vernon, who doesn’t have a preference on who his team would rather play.
“Not really. I suppose if you want to win a premiership you have got to beat whoever you face,” Vernon said.
“We will train as normal this week and next weekend,” he said.
Wonthaggi V Sale
Sunday September 6
Morwell Recreation Reserve
The loser of the match between Maffra and Traralgon will take on the winner of Sunday’s Elimination Final between the fourth placed Wonthaggi and the fifth placed Sale.
“I guess it’s cut throat, we will have to play well to win and they’ll be looking to do the same,” said Power coach Rob Railton.
“We have a healthy respect for Wonthaggi and I know Rob Railton runs a good program down there. We will have to be at our absolute best to get the job done, and as we all know, anything can happen in finals,” said Sale Coach Travis Ronaldson.
His Wonthaggi counterpart in Railton has conceded his side is very different to the one that finished runner up to Morwell last year.
“It’s taken me all year to recognise that. But it’s exciting for the young blokes to get the chance to play finals,” Railton said.
“There are six or seven guys who weren’t with us last year and we have lost some big names,” he said.
They include Earl Shaw, Jack Blair who is playing in the VFL with Collingwood, the retired Aaron Ware and Joel Liddle who’s season was ended by a knee injury earlier in the year.
“It’s good for club that we are still able to be in the finals with some significant personnel changes,” he said.
“I’ll be saying to the boys, we have got four steps let’s try and tick this one off,” Railton said.
Ronaldson too is excited at the prospect of finals footy.
"We are really excited about getting the chance to play finals footy. It is a great opportunity for our young group and I don't want to put a ceiling on what we can achieve…you build towards finals all year, it is the cherry that you look forward to during the long, cold winter. I know the boys have had a spring in their step this week and I hope that translates to on-field performance,” said Ronaldson after what has been an inconsistent season.
"This next month of footy is really a whole new ball game. It does not matter what has happened in the previous 18 rounds, it matters what happens now. We will soon find out if the respective game plans of the five sides can stand up to the pressure that comes with finals footy,” Ronaldson who said it will take contributions from all 21 of his players to get Sale over the line.
"We can't afford to rely on individuals to win us the game. Finals footy is about doing the simple things well, better than the opposition, and owning the big moments when they come,” he said.
Last Modified on 04/09/2015 11:17