CENTRAL MURRAY QUALIFYING FINAL
NNW UNITED
Coaches: Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill
KEY PLAYER
Joel Walsh
COULD have returned from a hamstring injury against Cohuna last Saturday but was given an extra week by the NNW United brains trust just to be sure.
Is locked in to play his first game since round 14 and has been sorely missed, the Demons winning just one of their past three matches in his absence.
Is a key member of the NNW United’s back six and perhaps the best intercept defender in the Central Murray. His run off half-back sets up many of the Demons’ attacking plays.
Won NNW United’s best and fairest last Sunday, giving him back-to-back Pat Phelan Medals.
BURNING QUESTION
Will the Demons reliance on Grenfell cost them?
LAST year one of NNW United’s big strengths was their unpredictability forward of the ball and the constant spread of goalkickers which made them hard to shut down when they got a run on, which took them all the way to the preliminary final.
The one thing they lacked was a key forward, someone they could kick to under pressure in the big moments, which was where Brandyn Grenfell came in.
Twelve months on and it’s hard to argue that the recruitment of the key forward has been anything but a success, Grenfell kicking 73 goals for the season to lead all comers in the Central Murray.
The problem for the Demons is their next best goalkicker is Nick O’Neill (18 goals), with Liam White and Charlie Boulton the only other players in red and blue with more than 10 goals.
If Joe Halloran can keep Grenfell to just one goal as he did in round 15, then it’s hard to see the Demons winning.
MALLEE EAGLES
Coaches: Brent Macleod and Harry Allen
KEY PLAYER
Brent Macleod
THE Eagles co-coach is also their barometer, given their best footy coincides with Macleod finding plenty of the ball.
Still a very underrated footballer despite being one of the best inside midfielders in the competition for the past two seasons.
His contested game is built to dominate at finals time, which is sure to be on display in close on the smaller Lake Boga oval.
Rarely wastes the ball when he does get his hands on it, which is regularly, and can also contribute on the outside with his strong and accurate kicking.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Eagles handle NNW United’s outside run?
ALTHOUGH they had all the answers when the two teams last met in round 15, the Eagles were outworked and outrun by the Demons’ speed and spread from the contest when they met in round 4.
Admittedly, three first-half injuries to Matthew Despott, Brett Thomas and Beau Bennett wouldn’t have helped their cause, but the way in which NNW United’s speedsters were able to break the game open would have concerned the Mallee faithful.
If the Eagles have a chink in their armour, it’s with their outside run, as they are the best team in the league at winning the ball on the inside.
The smaller Lake Boga ground will definitely help their cause, but if the Demons decide to go with all-out attack and take the game on, they could prove hard to stop.
KEY MATCH-UP
Joel Campbell v Darcy Hourigan
HOURIGAN is a man in form, having kicked 10 goals last Saturday against Lake Boga and 18 goals from his past three matches.
Has also kicked four goals in each of his two games against the Demons this season, which shows that NNW United have had trouble in keeping him quiet, which could spell trouble.
Joel Campbell has been the Demons’ main stopper this season, with Joel Walsh, Campbell Everitt and Zach Threadgold also having the capacity to go to Hourigan.
Walsh and Everitt are far more valuable in defence for their run and dash, meaning Campbell should get first crack at stopping Mallee’s spearhead.
