IT’S been a sharp fall from grace for Woorinen, who just three rounds ago were sitting second and looked destined to be one of this season’s leading contenders to dethrone reigning premiers Kerang.
Now, after consecutive losses to Tooleybuc-Manangatang and the Mallee Eagles, the Tigers are fighting for their finals future, having fallen to fifth ahead of Saturday’s must-win battle against ladder leaders Nyah-Nyah West United.
It’s a precarious position that the perennial finalists find themselves in now, with Woorinen wedged between Balranald (fourth) and the Saints (sixth) on the same points and facing a difficult run home, with games against Kerang, Balranald and Tyntynder in the last four rounds likely to decide their season.
It makes Saturday’s game against the Demons all the more important, with a loss set to see the Tigers tumble out of the five for the first time since round 2.
“The way the season has panned out, it’s so tight through the middle part of the ladder, three weeks ago we were playing for top spot and now we’re battling to stay in the race,” Woorinen coach Marcus Demaria told The Guardian this week.
“Every game is important for us.
“We have a tough run home and we understand that, but I’d like to think our players are up for the fight.
“More recently, we’ve probably lacked complete games from everyone, be it our experienced players or our younger guys.
“We’ve just found it hard to get back into our rhythm after having a two-week break a month ago.
“There aren’t too many of our guys who are playing near their best football.
“The challenge is on everyone, both as individuals and as a collective, to bring it together.
“Everyone has to stand up.
“From our experienced players who have been down on form and some of our younger ones who we thought may have been making some progress, we’ll be putting the acid on everyone who needs to stand up now, because our season is on the line.”
The only concern for NNW United ahead of Saturday’s match surrounds the fitness of star forward Brandyn Grenfell, who is in doubt to take his place, having injured his ankle in last Saturday’s 66 point-win for the Central Rivers interleague side over Sunraysia.
Grenfell has been a revelation for the Demons this season, having booted a league-high 47 goals from 10 games and given his onballers a clear focal point in attack across the first 10 games.
While Grenfell’s potential absence opens the door for a Woorinen upset, NNW United co-coach Jason Murphy says he is still confident his side has the firepower to kick a winning score regardless.
“We’ve been working hard at finding other avenues to goal all year because we really don’t want to be relying on the big fella (Grenfell) to do it all,” Murphy said.
“Charlie (Boulton), Alex (Erlandson), ‘Nicko’ (Nick O’Neill) have all done a really good job at times, and while it’s always handy to have him (Grenfell) there, we think we can kick a score without him as well.
“We’d love to have him (Grenfell) playing but we’ll have to wait and see over the coming days to see if he can get himself right.”
Although Grenfell’s availability is still to be determined, the Demons are expected to regain the services of defenders Campbell Everitt and Jarrod Skinner to help bolster their back half.
Woorinen will also have a strengthened squad this Saturday, with Will Collicoat, Regan Vesty and Tim Gammon all expected to return, while former Melbourne and Carlton midfielder Brock McLean will miss.
The midfield looms as a key battleground, just as it was back in round 2 when NNW United outworked, outran and outplayed Woorinen’s onballers, with the 31-point win helping confirm the Demons’ credentials as leading contenders.
It’s not the only time in recent memory that the Demons’ midfield has hurt Woorinen, with the Tigers also cut apart by their opponents’ speed and run in last year’s semi final.
“We’ll take a little bit out of the last time we played them (NNW United),” Demaria said.
“Everyone knows they like to play a forward handball game but they’ve also been kicking a lot lately and taking a lot of ground and taking ground pretty fast.
“As a collective it will be about how well we defend them and apply pressure to their ball carriers, and how we squeeze them up on our ground as well.
“Their contest work has been really strong and when they get the ball on the outside, especially their young guys, they just run.”
Although the Demons’ speed has caused Woorinen issues in the past, it could well be a very different story on the tighter Woorinen Recreation Reserve oval, especially with Woorinen so adept at setting up behind the ball.
The key for the Tigers will lie in them getting on top in the midfield, though, with Arnold Kirby, Jye Barry and Henry Thompson all needing big games in order to cause an upset.
Tip – NNW United to win by eight points
KEY MATCH-UP
Arnold Kirby v Blake Larkings
The last time these two clashed, it was Larkings who took the points, with the underrated ruckman helping to nullify the influence of the supremely talented Kirby both at the stoppages and around the ground.
There’s little doubt about Kirby’s talent and his importance to Woorinen’s structure, with the Tigers generally at their best whenever big Arnie is firing.
When Kirby was up and about and at his best early in the season, the Tigers were hard to stop, but it’s no surprise that his recent dip in form has also coincided with Woorinen’s losing streak, with Kirby having not been named among the Tigers best in any of his teams three previous matches.
THE BURNING QUESTION
How do Woorinen stop NNW United’s outside run?
Think I may have already asked this question back in round 2 – but Woorinen didn’t have the answer that afternoon after they were once again split open on the outside.
It’s no secret that the Demons like to take the game on and link up by hand through the middle, but knowing the way they like to play and shutting it down are two very separate issues.
The only team to beat NNW United this season have been Kerang, and while the Blues are one of the Central Murray’s finest, they also pride themselves on winning the contested ball.
So perhaps the secret lies in Woorinen getting their hands dirty and not allowing the Demons first use – after all, it’s hard to dominate on the outside if you don’t have possession of the pill.
