WANDELLA and Murrabit’s seasons will both be on the line when they meet in their all-important round 3 contest.
With both clubs starting 0-2, a win is a must for both teams in what is considered the closest Golden Rivers season in recent memory.
While the Blues slow start may not have come as a great surprise, the Bombers going through the opening two rounds, when many considered them premiership favourites, has rocked the foundations of the competition.
But while Wandella may have been slow out of the blocks, their coach Logan Keighran is hoping a focus on fixing the basics will result in a change of fortunes for the perennial finalists.
“The defensive side of our game needs to be at its best, as when we’re defending really well, the rest takes care of itself,” Keighran said.
“That’s been our big emphasis this week, just getting back to the basics and winning one-on-one contests, supporting our teammates and working really hard when we turn the footy over.
“I think we’ve gotten away from those areas these last couple of weeks – it’s simple footy and we talk about it all the time, but it’s really easy to talk about it, now we have to put it into action.
“We’ve shown glimpses of our best footy, but we’ve also had some pretty poor footy in amongst it, with two really bad quarters in two weeks that have cost us both games.
“(Tomorrow is) a huge game for our season, we need to right the ship.”
It’s a different story for Murrabit, with a vastly different side still finding their feet one of the main causes of their slow start, according to coach Mick O’Toole.
“I think bringing in 15 to 16 new players, which we had to do to improve our depth, has meant that the boys have taken a few weeks to gel together,” O’Toole told The Guardian.
“Hopefully it all swings around with a bit more stability really soon, but it’s like a grand final this week, we really need to make sure we get the win on the board because I know Wandella will be feeling the same.”
While Wandella will have much the same team run out as last Saturday’s 50-point loss to Ultima, Murrabit are expected to have some significant changes, with leading goal scorer Damian Cupido in doubt with a calf injury.
The news isn’t all bad for the Blues however, with Michael Grant and Nathan Henry expected to return, along with new recruits Jono and Edward Aujard, with the versatile pair expected to slot into the midfield and key defence.
Also in round 3 ladder leaders Moulamein host a depleted Hay, with the Lions set to be without Pat Jubb (shoulder), Luke Arandt, Tom Spence, Jayden Kinces and Tom Davies.
The news isn’t all bad for the visitors however, with Daniel Zambon and Andrew Low expected to return for the match against the in-form Swans.
Undefeated Ultima face off against Macorna outfit that will be desperate to atone for last Saturday’s fade-out against the Swans.
While the Tigers are expected to enter the match with an unchanged line-up, the Roos will regain the services of Jacob Schaper and senior coach Kyle Symons, providing the latter got through Thursday night’s session unscathed.
