LAKE Boga will aim to legitimise themselves as a finals threat by claiming their first big scalp of the season against Balranald
After three wins from four games, the Magpies find themselves third on the ladder heading into Saturday’s Greenham Park clash.
They are on the same points as second-placed Balranald, albeit from one less game.
The Roos are already considered to be a genuine flag threat, and most likely to challenge reigning premiers Kerang come season’s end.
Lake Boga, however, have had an indifferent start to the year against somewhat weaker opposition.
Their one test so far came against Cohuna a fortnight ago and they failed to pass, last year’s grand finalists defeating the Magpies by 46 points in a dominant second-half display.
Saturday presents a perfect opportunity to make a statement, with Balranald coach Jydon Neagle expecting the Magpies to ramp up the pressure in pursuit of the four points.
“It’s the sort of season where I don’t think you can take any game lightly and this week will be no exception,” Neagle told The Guardian this week.
“We’ll prepare as we always do, go out there and try and play our best footy.
“We just have to be defensively ready and be ready that when we do win the ball, we need to take the game on and attack as well.”
Key forward David Gourdis will return for Lake Boga, having missed last Saturday’s 49-point win over Tyntynder, with the marking target set to play a key role for the visitors, according to joint coach Angus Monfries.
“Last week we had a good spread of goal kickers, which was a positive considering we didn’t have (Gourdis) in the side,” Monfries said.
“Hopefully having him back in the side this week, will help straighten us out and if we can get some good match-ups with some of their undersized defenders on some of our bigger guys that push forward, then hopefully we can hit the scoreboard like last Saturday.”
Balranald will also have a couple of key inclusions, with Kobe Lloyd (hamstring) and Nathan Ablett to return.
Ablett could potentially line up on Gourdis and Lloyd will return to the Roos midfield to partner with in-form onballers Ethan Gant, Matthew Neagle and Tom Salau.
While the Roos midfield has both the class and depth to pose a significant challenge to their opposition, Neagle was under no illusions that it would also be Balranald’s biggest test against a Lake Boga outfit who have ramped up their pressure through the middle in recent weeks.
“We know our onballers probably won’t get first touch of the ball like we have over the last few weeks, so we’ll have to adjust to that,” Neagle said.
“They also like to play with a well-structured press and like to flood back pretty quick, so we’ll have to adjust and use quick ball movement to not allow them to set up behind the ball.”
Lake Boga also have many midfield threats, with Jacob Simpson one of, if not the, best ruckman in the competition.
Monfries agreed with his counterpart that the match would most likely be decided out of the middle – but where the Roos like to attack the game by moving the ball with speed and precision, the Magpies will be hoping their pressure game proves to be the perfect foil.
“Last Saturday was our first game where I felt we strung together a consistent four-quarter effort with our intensity and our pressure,” Monfries said.
“Before that, we had been good in patches, but last weekend and our performance should give us plenty of confidence that if we can do that against a good outfit like Balranald, then we’ll be right with them at the end.
“It’s going to be won and lost in the midfield, but they also have some key threats forward of the ball as well.
“With that, winning it out of the middle will help us nullify their forward threats and go a long way towards us taking the four points.”
While Lake Boga are not without a chance of an upset, beating Balranald on their own home patch is always a tough ask, and one you suspect is just out of reach.
Tip – Balranald to win by 15 points.
KEY MATCH-UP
Jacob Simpson v Jordan Wilkins
JORDAN Wilkins has been in scintillating form to start the season, but he will need to produce his absolute best opposed to one of the most influential big men in the league.
Not only can Simpson dominate the game around the stoppages and give his onballers first use, but his ability to provide a strong marking target is a key to Lake Boga’s chances.
Perhaps the X-factor for the Roos is Nathan Ablett, who went into the ruck in his first match against Woorinen and helped turn the contest in Balranald’s favour.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Where can Jydon Neagle cause the most damage to Lake Boga?
REGARDLESS of whether he plays forward, back or in the middle, you simply can’t beat Balranald if you allow Neagle to impact the game.
Not only does he find plenty of the ball, he also uses it better than most and always puts a teammate on the end of it.
While he will rotate through the middle at some point, you can expect to see him also roaming the forward line, where it’s hard to see Lake Boga having an effective match-up for him.
