THERE will be added motivation when King Valley and Greta go head to head at Whitfield tomorrow, with the two clubs battling it out for the Blue Ribbon Cup.
The Blue Ribbon Cup has been contested in the AFL between Hawthorn and St Kilda every year since 1999 as a way of honoring two Victoria Police officers, Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, who were killed in the line of duty in August 1998.
Greta's Scott Miller and King Valley's Steve Beavis, both members of Victoria Police, said the cup held a lot of meaning.
"It's quite significant for us in that it's a remembrance of fallen members," Miller said.
"Being members who play football that's two large aspects of our lives.
"It's about paying some respect to the organisation we're a part of."
"We understand that it's about honoring fallen members, and it's also a really good fundraiser for the local community," Beavis said.
"Specifically we're raising funds for a new MRI machine for Northeast Health.
"It's also good for a bit of banter between work colleagues we always get into each other for a few days before we play each other, and this one is going to have a little bit more significance."
After starting the year with a horror run of four straight losses, Greta has found form in the past couple of months, winning seven of its past eight matches.
"We've started to get our strongest team on the field," Miller said.
"That's led to getting some good wins on the board, and I think from here on it's a matter of our mental capacity, and our belief in ourselves to get out there and win.
"When we've kept our minds right and played all four quarters we've been able to run through them, but if we don't turn up mentally, that's when we begin to struggle.
"So against these top teams that we face over the next six weeks, it's all about our belief to win."
King Valley's form has been up and down, but Beavis said a 67-point thumping of Tarrawingee two weeks ago was a sign the Roos are now at the top of their game.
"We've had some new additions to the team this year, and I think we're really starting to gel," Beavis said.
"We've moved a few players around and the last couple of weeks we've really come on and started to play as a team.
"We've emphasised the word 'team' these past few weeks and it has started to pay off with a few big wins.
"Tarrawingee was always going to be a tough game, and that win has probably been the turning point for us."
For Greta, which sits eighth on the ladder, a win tomorrow is crucial given the Blues only play sides above them on the ladder through the final six rounds of the season.
"We're looking at this week as the first game in a significant run we've got until the end of the season," Miller said.
"We're up against quality opposition for the rest of the year, so it's important for us to get a roll on.
"We're going out there to win the cup, but we also just need to get over King Valley to set up our season over the next six weeks."
The Roos got themselves into the top four following their win over Tarrawingee, and Beavis said they were there to stay.
"Good luck to Greta, but this is a must-win for the Roos," Beavis said.
"For us it's a must-win to stay in the top four with teams like Tarrawingee, Greta and Benalla All Blacks hot on our tails."
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
www.nenews.com.au
To see the full story, see printed edition of this paper (subscribe today)
BIG GAME: Scott Miller, Jess Bussell, Colleen Sheridan, Peter Clarke, Hayden Sims and Steve Beavis prepare for tomorrow's Blue Ribbon Cup matches as King Valley takes on Greta in both football and netball.
PHOTO: Cheryl Browne
|
Last Modified on 13/07/2012 12:18