2022 preliminary final preview
Its Preliminary Final day in the SS&A OMFNL, with Bunton Park (North Albury) hosting its first final since the 2019 1st Semi-Final. The combatants will be old rivals Yarrawonga and Wangaratta Rovers, with the winner advancing to the Grand Final on Sunday September 25th against Wangaratta.
The last finals match the two went head-to-head was one of the all-time classic finishes that featured AFL great Barry Hall who was playing with Rovers in 2012.
The 2nd Semi-Final played at the Norm Minns Oval looked to be going the way of Wangaratta Rovers when they led by seven goals in the third term. However, a Yarrawonga comeback led by Brendan Fevola (five goals) got the Pigeons back in front with seconds remaining.
Hall who had earlier in the final term booted his seventh goal from fifty metres out, took a mark fifteen meters out directly in front. As he started walking back to his mark the siren sounded – Hall who had methodically gone through a routine all day when shooting on goal rushed his shot. To the disbelief of spectators, the shot missed to the left side leaving Yarrawonga winners by 2 points dropping Rovers into the preliminary final which they lost the next week to Albury.
Yarrawonga booted eight goals in the final term and went onto win the premiership beating Albury by 12 points, after Albury had beaten the Pigeons in the last three Grand Finals.
So, if the drama on Sunday is anywhere close to that epic encounter the large crowd expected at Bunton Park are in for a treat. The Rovers should get Cody Schutt back into the line up and could also consider two other options at the selection table. Tyson Hartwig becomes an option at either end of the ground, while utility Tristan Lenaz has made a return to the training track in recent weeks. Lenaz’s season looked over after ongoing Achilles concerns halted his season. Lenaz, who is Melbourne based, has been training strongly in a race against the injury clock.
Rovers, who were in sixth position with three rounds remaining, have hit form at the right time with five straight wins. They are one win away from its first grand final appearance in twenty years.
Their only injury concern is with star forward Alex Marklew who is managing a quad strain that has impacted his kicking for goal.
Yarrawonga will still be without gun onballers Harry Wheeler and Michael Gibbons, while Willie Wheeler should be fully recovered from a facial injury. Wheeler spent late last week on a drip after he contracted a staff infection to the lip. Despite the injury he played a more than serviceable game in the loss to Wangaratta.
The Pigeons are unlikely to make any changes to the side that was so brave and bold in last week’s Second Semi-Final loss.
Who picks up Yarrawonga star forward Leigh Williams? Will Rovers coach Daryn Cresswell give the challenge to young gun Jace McQuade? McQuade did a superb job on Tigers forward Jacob Conlan last Sunday keeping him to one goal. Hartwig, if he plays, could also take on Williams.
In their two previous meetings this year the ledger sits at one all. The Pigeons won the most recent clash by 46 points at Yarrawonga. Wangaratta Rovers came from 38 points behind at three quarter time in round four to stun the Pigeons by three points, in one of the seasons best games.
The Paula Cary Court at Bunton Park are in for an epic netball Preliminary Final, when Wangaratta challenge Corowa Rutherglen for a place in the Grand Final. Wangaratta, who are the defending back-to-back premiers from 2018 and 2019, have hit terrific form in its finals campaign and will be a tricky opponent for the Roos. The Magpies have so far eliminated Albury and Lavington from the finals race, and will be ready and able to do the same to Corowa Rutherglen.
The Roos were never really in the game against Yarrawonga last Saturday and will not be fazed by getting another chance to get its chemistry and strategy back. Most observers believe the extra game won’t harm their premiership chances. They must find a more methodical approach to goal shooter Grace Senior who was kept quiet last week. The result will have a big bearing on Senior and her Wangaratta counterpart in goal Georgia Clark, both genuine match winners.
In what should be an absolute thriller Corowa Rutherglen as minor premiers should advance to get another crack at Yarrawonga on Sunday week.
A reminder that both football and netball games are live streamed via OPTUS O&M TV and broadcast on 1494 2AY, 1566 3NE and OAK FM 101.3.
