WOORINEN will be looking to keep their dreams of a third straight premiership alive when they face Lake Boga in Sunday’s Central Murray Football Netball League first semi-final at Alan Garden Reserve on Sunday.
The Tigers fought hard, but ultimately came up short last Saturday against Cohuna, while Lake Boga progressed with a hard fought 24-point win over a disappointing Tyntynder in last weekend’s elimination final. While the Magpies were impressive in dismantling the Bulldogs, they will undoubtedly need to take their game to another level in order to match the reigning premiers.
Lake Boga’s game is built around winning the contested footy, and they did that very well in beating Tyntynder last Sunday. But perhaps the most impressive aspect of their play was the pressure they applied to Tyntynder’s ball carriers, which forced them into constant errors and turnovers across the ground. It’s a similar style to the one they will be faced with this weekend, with Woorinen’s best football coming when their pressure rating goes through the roof – which is a perfect game plan for finals football.
Woorinen will regain the services of key defender Mitchel Taylor, who missed his team’s loss to the Kangas. Taylor’s return will give much needed support to Ben Booth and Matt Gardner, although Gardner may be needed at the other end of the ground, with Lachlan Wright unlikely to get up after injuring his shoulder in the second quarter last week. Wright’s absence leaves a gaping hole up forward for the Tigers, especially with Patrick Veszpremi already being forced to spend more time running through the midfield after Robbie Miller’s loss for the remainder of the season with a broken leg.
Although Wright hasn’t been a prolific goal scorer in recent weeks (five goals from his past five games), he is an important link in the Tigers’ forward chain, playing as a high- marking half-forward target and the conduit between defence and attack.
Lake Boga may also be forced into a change to their line-up as well, with Andrew Clark leaving the ground late in their elimination final win with a dislocated shoulder. Although it’s a reoccurrence of an old injury, he must still be in some doubt to take his place in the side.
Jacob Simpson continues to lead the way for the Magpies and will again be a vital cog in his team’s engine room. His battle with Woorinen big man Arnold Kirby will go a long way to deciding this match, especially if Kirby is able to curb Simpson’s influence in giving his midfielders first use of the ball around the stoppages.
The Tigers can’t allow Matthew Filo, Tyle Williams, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown and Josh Cruse-Filo to dominate the contested situations – especially Williams, who had an enormous impact around the ground against the Bulldogs last week.
While the Magpies’ ability to win the contested ball is the cornerstone of their game, the key to success for Woorinen will be shutting down Angus Monfries, whose five goals in the second half proved to be the difference on Sunday. Monfries (44 goals) has played a lone hand up forward at times for the Magpies this season and, even though Jayden Lonergan and Dustin Burns have been solid contributors on the scoreboard in recent weeks, the former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward is still the player most likely to tear a game apart.
Ben Booth would be the logical choice to run with Monfries, with the Tigers’ full back proving to be one of the best defenders in the competition this season. Booth has exceptional closing speed and would give Monfries no space to work in, meaning the Lake Boga midfielders will need to be precise with their disposal inside 50.
It’s a lesson that the Tigers could also learn from, with their disposal at times going inside their attacking half disappointing at times last Saturday. Jake Hammond had a field day as an intercept defender for the Kangas and picked off many of Woorinen’s forward entries – and without Wright in their line-up, their disposal will need to be even more precise.
On paper, the midfield battle looks to be relatively even, although the Tigers may have a little too much class with both Jye Barry and Josh Domaille among the league’s better onballers. In the absence of Miller, Woorinen have had been forced to find more midfield minutes from Mitch Uhlhorn, Regan Vesty and Veszpremi, which has certainly affected their midfield rotations.
Lake Boga will enter Sunday’s must-win encounter almost at full strength in that critical area of the ground. When the teams met in round 15, Woorinen monstered the Magpies around the ground, with Domaille a key figure in their win that day. While they may not be able to shut both he and Barry out of the game, it may be worthwhile Lake Boga tagging one of the two and restricting the Tigers’ ball-winning ability in that key aspect of their game.
With the winner set to get a crack at the grand final and the loser’s season to end there and then, expect neither side to leave anything on the field – with the Tigers’ finals experience giving them the edge in a closely fought battle.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 15 points.
KEY PLAYER
Patrick Veszpremi – Has the class to completely tear a game apart and is the one player whose influence Lake Boga need to restrict, whether it’s up forward or through the midfield. Was among Woorinen’s better players in last Saturday’s qualifying final, coming up with clutch goals in the big moments. The Magpies worked him over physically when they last met in round 15, but while they won the battle in limiting Veszpremi’s impact, they ultimately lost the war.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Do the Tigers still have the midfield depth?
The loss of Robbie Miller has not only restricted the Tigers’ ability to win the contested ball – something that Lake Boga pride themselves on – but has also hit their midfield depth at the wrong time of the season. Woorinen were found wanting against the Kangas through the midfield last Saturday and, try as they might, Jye Barry and Josh Domaille can’t be expected to do it all.
LAKE BOGA
KEY PLAYER
Angus Monfries – Was the difference in the second half of the elimination final victory over Tyntynder. After being well held in the first half, Monfries got off the chain after half-time, kicking five goals – including a three in a row to put a halt to Tyntynder’s comeback in the third quarter. Didn’t play in round 15 when the two teams last met and spent almost three quarters on the bench with a calf injury in round 5.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Do they have the class to match it with the top three?
While Lake Boga would be well pleased with their win over Tyntynder in last Sunday’s elimination final, their performance did nothing to quell the doubts that they still aren’t quite ready to match it with the big three. Have lost all five games against Kerang, Cohuna and Woorinen this season by an average margin of 70 points and, although they have taken massive steps forward in 2022, they are yet to show they are ready to beat the best. That said, I’d absolutely love them to prove me – and everyone else – wrong.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Have played twice this season, with Woorinen claiming the points with a 49-point win at home in round 5 – before following up with a 62-point victory in round 15. While Jacob Simpson has taken the points in the ruck on both occasions, Woorinen’s midfield has had the last laugh, with Jye Barry and Josh Domaille dominating out of the middle, along with Henry Thompson in defence for the Tigers.
KEY MATCH-UP
Arnold Kirby v Jacob Simpson
The pair are arguably both clubs’ most important players, in that when they perform, they usually win. Have faced off against each other twice during the season, with Simpson having the edge on both occasions – however Kirby arguably had more impact around the ground. Kirby was huge in a losing cause last weekend and will be looking to run Simpson into the ground with his athleticism. The Lake Boga big man will be vital to giving his midfielders the edge around the stoppages.
