BIG improver Yinnar will take on long-time ladder leader Mirboo North for a place in the Mid Gippsland grand final.
Yinnar, fresh from a big win over Newborough, will take great confidence in knowing that it can, and has, beaten each of the finals contenders.
Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said it was going to be a tough game and the Magpies would be putting a lot of thought into how they attacked it, with a focus on skills.
Mirboo North’s week off gave sore bodies a chance to recover and the Tigers should come into the game with fresh legs.
Tigers coach Troy Hamilton said a slightly shaky end to the season had not diminished confidence in the group.
“We haven’t been challenged for a bit and obviously when we were we lost to Yinnar and Boolarra,” Hamilton said.
“I suppose we had three games at the end of the season against the lower sides, so we’re not sure how well we are playing as such.”
The Tigers will receive a boost with Jacob Nash and Matt Holland expected to return to the side.
In the reserves the undefeated Bulldogs have a home ground advantage against opponent Mirboo North.
Going through the season without a loss can often be a curse, but having beaten Mirboo North by 50 points last time they met, the Bulldogs will go in as favourites.
The strongest teams in the thirds competition, Yarragon and Thorpdale, who finished first and second respectively, will clash for a place in the grand final.
Wins went either way in the home and away competition, and this match will be a big test for Thorpdale.
Yarragon’s fourths take on Yinnar.
Newborough v Trafalgar
RIVALS Trafalgar and Newborough clash in what should be a fierce battle for a preliminary final spot.
Newborough was outclassed in a 42-point loss to Yinnar last weekend and entered this week with work to do before Sunday.
Bulldogs coach Allan Chandler said his side needed to lift for finals like other teams were doing.
“We need to lift our work-rate and intensity… probably (need to improve) our ball use as well,” he said.
Trafalgar coach Chris Kyriacou said the week’s preparation would be about deciding match ups and getting heads and bodies “right” for the task ahead.
“I’ll be sitting down in a lot of meetings, going through match-ups and things that we need to improve on and going through Newborough’s strengths and weaknesses,” Kyriacou said.
In the reserves Yinnar won both matches over its opposition Boolarra in the home and away season, but the margin was just two points in the second match and this game could go either way.
Yinnar and Newborough thirds face off after honours were shared in the regular season by similar margins.
Mirboo North’s fourths have been closing the gap on Newborough throughout the year, edging closer on the ladder and going down by fewer points.
The Tigers have one last chance to bridge the gap.
