The Inverell Saints will host the 2010 TAFL Grand Final this Saturday at Varley in a replay of the 2007 and 2008 deciders against the Tamworth Kangaroos. These two teams have been the yardstick in recent seasons, battling out the last 3 Major Semi Finals and now the third Grand Final in 4 years. If past results are anything to go by, this match promises to be an absolute cracker. In those Grand Finals in 2007 and 2008, both games were decided by less than 2 goals after both the losing teams hit the lead in the last quarter. This season, the ledger was split at one win each in the regular season, with the Saints then winning the Major Semi by 2 goals. There is no reason to suggest anything other than a close game is on the cards on Saturday.
The Saints will come into the match on the back of a week off, but that has done nothing to help ease the lingering injuries in the Saints camp. Mick Viney looks certain to miss with his knee injury sustained in the last round of the Home and Away season, whilst Jason Gobbert has succumbed to a calf injury. This leaves the Saints a little short of strike power up front, but Joe Kimmince, Chris Whitton and Mick Corcoran will look to fill the void and kick the goals the Saints need.
The Saints midfield will be for a tough affair, with the Roos outfit possibly the strongest in the league. Justin Pay has had an outstanding season in the ruck and the Saints need him to be firing on Saturday. KJ Te Velde and Peter Dunlop were both impressive last outing in the midfield and will more than likely get first crack in the centre come the first ball up. Corey Wheeler's first season in Saints colours has been excellent, and the Tony Gilles Medallist will have the task of winning alot of ball out of the middle for the Saints.
The backline of the Saints has been the most miserly of the league in 2010, but the 95 points conceeded last week was the most all season for the Saints. Veterans Shaun Mansbridge and Matt Harrison will look to lead the rest of the back 6 to restrict the potent Roos forwards.
After the 18 rounds of football plus a couple of weeks of Finals, it all comes down to this match and it should be a beauty. All the action starts at 2pm down at Varley Oval.
Last Modified on 09/09/2010 09:34