THE Mallee Eagles will go into this Saturday’s second semi-final against minor premiers Kerang confident of an upset, according to Eagles co-coach Harry Allen, following his team’s four-point win over Nyah-Nyah West United.
Although the Eagles suffered a 40-point loss to the Blues just two weeks ago, Allen said he was expecting a much more competitive performance from his team the second time around.
“This Saturday is the big one for us” Allen said post match.
“We’re guaranteed to at least play in a prelim and then get two chances to go through so it was a huge win for us on the weekend.
“We take a lot of confidence out of the way we played against them (Kerang) last time, despite being well beaten in the end.
“The players we’ve had come into the side since that game will make a big difference and then if we get Darcy (Hourigan) and ‘Posty’ (Jayden Post) back in, then we feel like we’ll test them.
“Particularly at Woorinen’s ground too, we feel like that will really suit us, albeit their (Kerang’s) contested game is as strong as anyone’s.
“We feel like we’re a very balanced side – it’s probably the best side I’ve been apart of, certainly from Lalbert.
“The buy-in from the travellers and the locals, they’re all great guys and they all love the club and it’s created a really good culture and environment to drive and play good footy.
“The jobs not done but we’re looking forward to getting into Kerang.
“We’re pretty confident we can give it a shake.”
Making their task easier could well be the returns of bookends Darcy Hourigan and Post, who both missed Saturday’s win over NNW United with injury.
Post missed, having injured a hamstring during the Eagles’ win over Lake Boga in the final round of the home-and-away season, while Hourigan was a late out from Saturday’s team after he too felt some awareness in a hamstring on Thursday night.
“We (co-coach Brent Macleod and Allen) were talking about their potential returns post match but on the flip side it would be good to have a real crack at Kerang, and if we win then we all get the week off,” Allen said.
“I think Darcy will definitely play.
“I spoke to him earlier and he has caught up with his physio and there’s no real strain there in his hammy so he should be pretty right, and then Posty was there on Saturday helping on the bench and he said he doesn’t want to watch another game so I’ms sure he’ll be right too.
“We need to make the right call with them.
“We’ll be smart with managing them, especially with the double chance still in play, but I think both of those boys should be right to return.”
The 10.8 (68) to 10.4 (64) victory was set up in the opening term for the Eagles, who despite kicking into the wind managed to take a four-point lead into quarter-time.
From there the Eagles managed to maintain possession, with two unheralded youngsters earning special praise from their co-coach post match.
“We played our better footy to some degree kicking into the wind,” Allen said.
“The first quarter was great they way we held them up well, kicking against it, and then the start of the third quarter was much the same.
“They kicked a couple late goals in the quarter but we did well until then.
“Being down by three points going into the last quarter, internally we thought if we kept playing the way we were then we should overrun them, and even though it took until the last minute it was a good result.
“Having Posty out and Darcy (Hourigan), who was a late out as well, didn’t help.
“They are pretty key pillars out of our side, but I thought Jacob O’Meara went forward and did really well and Dom Makur came up from the reserves to fill Posty’s role and did really well.
“That will give us a fair bit of belief now.
“They’ll both be back next week with a bit of luck.”
