AFTER four wins from their first five matches, Tooleybuc-Manangatang will go into Saturday’s top-three clash against Balranald full of confidence, according to senior coach Brad Morris.
Having won just four games over the past three years, the Saints have been the Central Murray’s big improvers this season.
A new coach and new recruits have revitalised their locals, who are now are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
As good as Morris’ men have been though, the Roos will be their biggest test thus far.
“We’re building our confidence slowly and growing the connection within the group, which was always going to take a bit of time with the new recruits,” Morris said.
“We’re just ticking the boxes that we’re setting for ourselves in terms of goals at the moment and trying to improve at the same time.
“Looking at Balranald and coming up against one of the grand finalists from last year will be a massive test for us, but it’s one that we’re looking forward to.
“While the recruits have been huge, the local guys and the younger blokes that have come into the team and held their spots have done a power of work too.
“Guys like Gareth Grant, Jack Templeton, John Wardle, these blokes have been around for a while and gone through some tough times recently, but they’ve hung in there and done a big pre-season and now hopefully can start to reap those rewards.”
Balranald also have a 4-1 win-loss record, but with dented pride following last Saturday’s last-gasp defeat to Woorinen and before that a face-saving three-point win over Koondrook-Barham.
Against the Tigers, the Roos gave up a 21-point half-time lead and kicked seven straight behinds in the third quarter.
Balranald co-coach Jydon Neagle told The Guardian anything less than their best just wouldn’t cut it anymore.
“We need to respond, we wanted to respond last week (against Woorinen), but to their credit they were too good,” Neagle said.
“We had our chances, but if you don’t put a good team away like we failed to do then you get what you deserve.
“It’ll be another test on Saturday and again, if we don’t pull our fingers out then we’ll get the same result as last week.
“Some of our skill errors have been poor the last few weeks and we need to clean that area of our game up as soon as possible, we’d been good up until the last couple of weeks, but we’ve just been making bad errors that just aren’t up to our standard.
“The decisions have been right, it’s just about being able to execute.”
Tooleybuc-Manangatang are expected to have an unchanged line-up to the one that defeated Lake Boga by 44 points.
For Balranald, Kobe Lloyd, Jordan Wilkins and Bill Barry are all expected to return from injury.
All three will give the Roos midfield a significant boost, Lloyd having been in career-best form prior to missing last week’s loss.
Balranald’s top-level onball talent is among the best in the competition, but not far behind them is the Saints, with Blake Grant, Elliot Chalmers, Harrison Maher and Kai Kearns all capable of winning games off their own boot.
However, the contest could be decided by the scoring capabilities of both sides.
“Our forward line has been pretty settled and is starting to work well,” Morris said.
“The first few weeks have been all about finding that chemistry to pull it all together.
“We’re starting to hit the scoreboard now and the guys up there are giving us good options and a spread of options too, we’re not focused on Josh (Williams) like we had to be last season, we’ve got a couple of other avenues to goal like Connor (Nutting) and ‘Johno’ (Johnathan Marsden), which is good.
“The midfield will be a key battleground of course, especially when you look at Jydon (Neagle) and their midfield stoppage work, but if we can slow down their dominance inside and hopefully get on top in there, that will go a long way to us being successful.”
Although the Saints have plenty of firepower up forward, so too do the Roos, with Colin Andrews (17 goals), Drew Lloyd (14 goals), Matthew Neagle (12 goals) and Jydon Neagle (11 goals) all within the Central Murray’s top 10 goalkickers so far.
If Balranald’s onballers can get them enough supply, and they kick straight, that should be enough to return the Roos to the winners’ list.
Tip – Balranald to win by seven points.
KEY MATCH-UP
Connor McDonald v Jordan Wilkins
WOORINEN ruckman Arnold Kirby dominated Balranald in the absence of Wilkins last Saturday, despite Drew Lloyd’s best efforts, highlighting the importance of the Roos’ main ruckman to their side.
Not only is Wilkins a strong tap ruckman, he can also impact around the ground, where his athleticism and marking ability making him a strong target on the transition out of defence.
The challenge is that he will be coming up against the league’s best ruckman, certainly on form, with McDonald leading The Guardian LJ Hooker Player of the Year award, as well as having been named among the Saints’ best players in every game so far this season.
If Balranald want to stop Tooleybuc-Manangatang, then they will need to find a way to limit McDonald’s influence.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can Balranald’s defence handle Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s forwards?
THIS question would have seemed ridiculous six weeks ago, but after last Saturday’s loss to Woorinen, there are genuine questions being asked about whether Balranald have the key defensive stocks capable of handling the big power forwards.
Lachie Gardner kicked six goals and seemed to be an insurmountable force in the last quarter.
Kerang’s Archer Dibsdale (four goals) and Tyntynder pair Jason Eagle and Jayden Magro (three each) have caused Balranald’s back six problems. Koondrook-Barham’s Warren Lolicato threatened to take the Roos apart a fortnight ago with three goals in a half before he was injured.
Awaiting them is Josh Williams, a man who kicked 54 goals in a two-win team last season, and who has threatened to tear multiple games open in the first six rounds.
