A SECOND win of the season will be the prize on offer for Murrabit and Moulamein when they clash this weekend in round 10 of Golden Rivers football.
Separated by a single percentage point at the bottom of the ladder, the Blues and Swans put on a show in their last meeting.
The round 5 match kept both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats, as Moulamein overcame a four-goal deficit to win by a point.
That narrow victory remains the Swans’ only win for the year, while the Blues claimed a 22-point win over Macorna in round 2.
The Swans were able to match it with Wandella for three quarters in round 8 before falling away, while they put together a 10-goal second half against Macorna last weekend.
It wasn’t enough for victory, but the performance displayed the type of football Moulamein want to play – one that can turn a game in an instant.
Murrabit coach Jack Shannahan said the earlier loss to the Swans was one he’d like to forget, and he was hoping his side could come out on top in a similar game this weekend.
“We felt like we were on top for the majority of the game on that day,” he said.
“Then we had a 15-minute lapse in our effort and concentration and that’s what cost us the game.
“Credit must go to Moulamein for that, they stuck at it all day and were able to break us in that last 30 seconds.
“There can be a bit of redemption there for us after what happened last time, after what we felt like was of an off weekend last weekend (losing to Wandella by 22 points).
“We feel as though we are building, that our effort and consistency had been pretty good in those three weeks prior to that.”
Shannahan said his side needed to work on putting a stop to their opponents’ surging momentum.
“We’re pretty honest with ourselves and while we are doing a lot of things right, there’s still a few things we need to be working on,” he said.
“We feel like we are still having a few little lapses in games where teams are allowed to string a few goals together, and at the end of the day that’s been the difference in a few of our losses.
“We just need to be able to stop teams from scoring when they do get that momentum and wrestle it back in our direction.
“It’s obviously disappointing when you feel like you’re doing a lot right and not getting the job done.”
Nathan O’Toole has been continued to be at his influential best, Tobie Cameron has hit some strong form with consistent time through the middle, but two youngsters had impressed Shannahan in recent weeks.
“Sam Copland has been one of our standout performers,” Shannahan said.
“Archer McKnight is another young fella who has done a couple of jobs for us through the middle.
“Archer has been good at keeping an eye on his opponent and still being able to win his own footy.
“The pair of them have been getting better and better every week.”
In the round’s other matches, Ultima host Macorna and will be boosted by the return of key defender Caillum Brady and strong half-forward Bailey Codling.
Brady’s defensive expertise will strengthen an already strong back line, while Codling adds another target to the dangerous Roos attack.
But the Tigers will be keen to improve from their 55-point round 5 loss to Ultima, as they look to upset the second-placed side.
The Tigers last week weathered the Swans’ onslaught and held on for a win.
Malcolm Neiwand was huge, both on the scoreboard and in the contest, and has been one of Macorna’s best all year.
Wandella will host Hay and try to upset the undefeated Lions.
The Bombers will remain without co-coach and leading goalkicker Justin Robinson, with Marius Clarke another absence.
Kaine O’Connell has continued his strong year for the Bombers, being a solid rock through the midfield or holding together the back line.
While they’ve beaten the teams put in front of them over the past fortnight, the Bombers will need to be at their best if they want to test the reigning premiers.
Lions forward Declan Watson was absent in last weekend’s top-of-the-table clash, but Hay were able to grind out a win over Ultima.
Skipper Brad Pocock was influential, while youngster Jim Houston filled Watson’s role as the leader of the Lions’ attack well.
