MACORNA coach Scott Wishart has described this week’s match-up with Wandella as “a massive game” with strong implications for the league’s post-season action.
The Tigers were triumphant in their opening-round clash with the Bombers at home but are under no illusion that they will have things as easy as in their six-goal win last month.
Macorna and Wandella sit on two wins in the ladder’s third and fourth spots. Both sides are hungry to win, having suffered defeats last weekend.
“We are both pretty close on the ladder,” Wishart said.
“We play Wandella four times this year, and I think that each game we play with them will be an eight-point game.
“If your side can get a win in a game like that, you put yourself a bit further ahead of the chasing pack.
“We need to be right on the ball. We got the win in round 1, but Wandella look like they’ve been playing better every week and improving with each game.
“It’s really a huge game for us, and it will be a different and tougher challenge for us this week.”
The Golden Rivers league’s two leading sides, Hay and Ultima, have strengthened their hold on the top of the table after five rounds.
Each side has had an opportunity to face each of their opponents and the ladder is beginning to take shape.
Wishart said his side’s ability to share the goals around stood them in good stead to hit the scoreboard, with an emphasis on their small forwards.
“We’ve got a good spread down forward,” he said.
“While we might be that little bit shorter in the forward half, it just means we need to be a bit more careful in our ball use and ensure we are lowering the eyes and hitting up our forwards.”
“It’s not like we have just a single target that the opposition can close down and shut us down entirely in our forward half.
“If one guy is a little off one week, we’ve got other guys who can step up into that role.
“First and foremost, we need to be winning the football and give ourselves a chance to get it forward.”
But Wishart said an emphasis on his team’s contested midfield work had a big effect at both ends, helping to score and stopping Wandella’s big threats, Justin Robinson and Adam Ward.
“The big focus this weekend will be on contested footy, and it usually is for us.
“Like most games, that battle in the midfield is where the game can be won or lost.
“We need to do our best to get on top of the clearances, which will hold us in good stead if we can get enough ball forward and hopefully kick a winning score.
“We need to be right on the ball. We got the win in round 1, but Wandella look like they’ve been playing better every week and improving with each game.
“If we can get our hands on the footy and beat them in the contest, then the rest will hopefully come.”
In the round’s other matches, Moulamein travel to Ultima a week after the Swans claimed their first win of the season over Murrabit.
Moulamein were tenacious in the final stages of their one-point victory, with off-season recruit Trae Atkinson’s run and footy smarts vital to the win.
Ultima were outstanding in their win over Macorna last week, overcoming the tough situation when the game was paused after coach Kyle Symons was knocked out in an off-the-ball incident.
The Roos will be without Symons this weekend and will be keen to put on a show against the Swans.
After their narrow defeat by the Swans last weekend, things won’t get much easier for the Blues when they host undefeated reigning premiers Hay.
The Lions have appeared unstoppable at times this year, with the ability to pile on goals in an instant, and the midfield ability to keep a game on their own terms all day.
But travelling to Murrabit may have Hay on edge, as the Blues command their home ground well and have the ability to get on top of the contest.
