KERANG
Coach – Troy Coates
KEY PLAYER
Josh Nitschke
Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the competition, Nitschke is a game breaker in every sense of the word.
Has a work rate that is unmatched and can play either forward as a marking option or in defence as a running half back, such is his flexibility.
Leading from the front as captain of the Blues, Nitschke consistently saves his best for the big games, as evidenced by his best on ground in last year’s grand final.
Missed the last two games with a hamstring strain, including Kerang’s 40-point win over the Eagles in round 17, and providing he’s back to full fitness, will be a player to watch on Saturday.
BURNING QUESTION
Does Sean Hunter play forward or back?
What a luxury it is for Troy Coates to have a player like Sean Hunter.
Forward, back, wing, midfield, no matter where he plays Hunter is hard to stop, with his speed and attack on the ball often changing the game for the Blues with a 10 to 15 minute burst.
Won Kerang’s seniors best and fairest this season and has quickly come of age in just his second senior season in navy blue.
Having kicked 20 goals this season, I’d almost expect him to start forward to stretch the Eagles defence early in the game.
MALLEE EAGLES
Coaches – Brent Macleod and Harry Allen
KEY PLAYER
Harry Allen
In his first season as coach, Allen is one of several Eagles who will need to be at their best on Saturday if they are to topple the minor premiers and earn a direct passage into this year’s grand final.
Has been one of his team’s leading midfielders all season and his inside game is built for finals.
Was below his best against NNW United however, which should only spell danger for Kerang as he rarely plays two bad games in a row.
Along with fellow coach Brent Macleod, the pair are vital to the Eagles midfield structure and the ability to dominate around the stoppages, which is what their team’s game plan is based upon.
BURNING QUESTION
Do the Eagles play both Darcy Hourigan and Jayden Post?
If they are both 100 per cent fit with no chance of re-injuring their hamstrings then absolutely, they do, but it is still a huge risk to take.
Both are integral to the Mallee Eagles structure both forward and back, with Post’s return to defence coinciding with his side’s return to form after a sluggish start to the home-and-away season.
The big risk is if either of them re-injure themselves, that will be it for their season as they will surely be unable to recover before the grand final in two weeks time should they make it that far.
The other risk is to beat Kerang, you need everything going right, including full bench rotations for four quarters and everyone knows taking injured players into a game can be fraught with danger.
The Eagles have the double chance and I suspect they will make the most of that advantage.
KEY MATCH-UP
Nick Lang v Jai Middleton/Kieren Bourke
Finishing runner up in Kerang’s best and fairest this season shows just how highly Nick Lang is rated within the Blues four walls, with the ruckman having transformed their team since his arrival at the start of last season.
Despite his impact since his arrival, Lang hasn’t had his usual influence in the two games against the Mallee Eagles this season, having not been named in the Blues better players on either occasion.
The first game, back in round 6, it was Kieren Bourke who was able to nullify his influence, with Lang failing to dominate the game but still having an impact.
Bourke then teamed up with Jai Middleton three weeks ago to again blunt Lang’s dominance around the ground with the Eagles one-two punch seemingly working.
Finals can be a different ball game, however, and Lang saved his best for when it mattered most last season – and it would be little surprise to see him do the same again on Saturday.
See also: Eagles, Blues to clash
