Semi Final Preview – 2017
From the Border Mail
OSBORNE could be bolstered by the inclusion of up to five players for its second semi-final clash against Jindera at Walbundrie on Saturday.
The Cats will field a considerably different line-up to the one which lost to their opponents by seven points in the final round with Hayden Gleeson, Andrew Johnston, Matt Clarke, Simon Lane and Trent Haddrill in the mix to return.
“They are all looking at playing this week,” coach Matt Rava said.
“There is a lot of competition for spots and we will have to weigh it up later in the week.
“It’s a good position to be in.
Jindera will regain experienced midfielder Andrew Wilson while the Bulldogs are clinging to hope Sam Myors will recover from a knee injury.
Rava downplayed the significance of the Cats losing their first match of the season in the final home and away match.
“I don’t think anyone would have expected us to only drop one game for the year,” he said.
“We’ve got to make sure we make it count now and going straight through to the grand final is obviously massive.
“We have a really level-headed group and I haven’t heard anyone getting ahead of themselves.
“We know we don’t have any out-and-out stars who will win a game off their own boot, but we rely heavily on 21 contributors.”
Jindera coach Kerry Bahr said he expected both sides to thrive on the big Walbundrie ground.
“They are very quick,” Bahr said.
“I guess we have to go in quick to combat that.
“We play the same sort of attacking game so I think it will be a good spectacle.”
Osborne’s goalkicking has been led by flanker Connor Galvin who has 43 majors while the Bulldogs also rely heavily on a mobile target in Dylan Pettingill who has the same number of goals.
Jamie Parr shapes as another match-winner.
CULCAIRN co-coach Brendan Way has declared Sunday’s first semi-final against Rand-Walbundrie-Walla as a “line ball game”.
“We had a tight game just before the finals and I’d expect another one,” Way said.
“They were super against Henty and I was happy with our win against Brock-Burrum.”
The midfield battle will be crucial as both clubs are loaded with talented forwards.
Jamie Robbins, Peter Cook and Trent Peryzk are capable of kicking bags for the Lions while Myles Aalbers, Todd Miller and Nick Turner have 50-plus goals for the Giants.
