THEY’VE been the teams to beat in Golden Rivers football this year, now Ultima and Hay will clash on neutral turf for a spot in the grand final.
The Lions and Roos have had the top two spots wrapped up for over a month and would have had one eye on preparations for this week’s first semi-final.
While Hay had the edge during the season, winning two of three match-ups with Ultima to finish atop the ladder, the Roos can take belief from their round 14 win over Hay.
Although the Lions weren’t at full strength, Ultima’s 24-point win featured a masterful midfield performance from the Roos’ onballers.
Ultima coach Kyle Symons said his side had been looking forward to this match, as they try to avoid a home preliminary final by going straight to the big dance.
“It feels like this year has been a bit of a long one, I’m sure all of our boys are up and about for this match,” he said.
“They got us a couple of times up on their home deck, but we were able to beat them in round 14.
“It goes to show that whoever is the best team on the day is going to win – we know we just have to execute our plans when it really matters.
“Everything that we do as a team is tailored to be played on any ground, against any opposition.
“We just have to get our right blokes in the right spots, and it should take care of itself from there.”
The Roos are set to welcome back hard-working midfielder Tom Bull after he missed last round against Moulamein.
Symons said the addition would allow his other midfielders like Jake Foster and Mitchell Seton-Stewart to step into certain roles against Hay’s midfield.
“We always want to play a positive brand of football and try to make Hay defend for longer than they have had to this year,” he said.
“We’ll have to make sure we really put the pressure on their midfield, and not allow them to get any easy footy.
“They rarely turn the ball over, so we’re going to have to work our butts off to get it off them and really protect it once we have the ball.”
Hay coach Mick Cattanach said he thought the strength of his side and this weekend’s opposition made for “a really strong rivalry between the two clubs”.
“For probably the last four or five weeks, we knew this game was just around the corner,” he said.
“We’ve got massive respect for Ultima; they were fantastic last year and got one over us earlier this year.
“They’re a pretty complete football team this season – they’ve got a little bit more depth to their midfield than they did last year, and some strong key-position players.
“Ultima have a strong ability to transition the football, especially through guys like Mitch Makepeace and Caillum Brady.”
Both coaches believe the game will be won or lost through the midfield battle, with Hay’s onballers featuring several dangerous players.
Jack Cattanach has taken his game even further this season, becoming one of the most prolific ball-winners in country football.
Brad Pocock and Bentley Murphy have also been damaging players.
But Mick Cattanach said he wanted his team to ensure Ultima’s midfield crew weren’t able to gain the upper hand, by winning the hard ball.
“We need to make sure we do the hard stuff, we have to roll the sleeves up and win the ball on the inside,” he said.
“I think both sides have enough class and quality on the outside, so it’s about getting the grunt work done on the inside.
“We’ll turn to a player like Jacob Watson for that sort of stuff, he’s been outstanding for us this year, and hope he has a big impact this finals series.”
Both teams possess goalkicking threats, with Ryan Devereux and Declan Watson leading the charge with 59 and 58 goals, respectively.
KEY PLAYERS
Hay: Jack Cattanach
THE star of the Lions’ midfield unit, Cattanach has become one of the state’s highly regarded young country footballers.
Named in the Hay best players 13 times in his 15 matches, Cattanach’s ability with ball in hand has opposition paying him close attention.
His ability to hit the scoreboard is another addition to his game, kicking 26 goals for the year – including two five-goal hauls.
If Cattanach isn’t kept on a short leash by his direct opponent, he can turn a game in an instant.
Ultima: Tom Bull
HOMEGROWN Ultima star Thomas Bull lives up to his surname – the hardworking midfielder like a bull at the gate.
Bull never stops running and racks up the disposals whether he’s won the hard ball or is running past on the outside.
Having returned to Ultima last year, his experience and expertise brings the Roos a player whose cleanness in disposal is matched only by his football IQ.
Bull’s ability and never-say-die attitude holds the Roos in good stead in finals football, as a player who can stand up when the pressure is maxed out.
KEY MATCH-UP
Jake Foster v Jacob Watson
TWO of the league’s hard-ball kings, Foster and Watson are set to do battle for just the second time after each missed one of the top-of-the-ladder clashes this year.
Neither player is one to back down from the hard work and will look to gain their side the upper hand.
Foster’s connection with his side runs deep, working strongly within the midfield unit and getting the ball into his forwards.
Watson has been immense for Hay in his first year with the club, his ability to find his brother Declan a highlight for Hay supporters throughout the year.
With a wealth of strong runners in both sides’ midfields, the ability to extract the football in tight spaces will be integral.
