A SPOT in the second semi-final will be on the line when Moulamein and Hay clash at the Lions den tomorrow afternoon.
The Swans have been anchored inside the top two all season, and while they will most likely remain there tomorrow due to their superior percentage, a victory to the Lions would draw them level on points and set up a very tense final three rounds.
Moulamein hold a 2-0 record against Hay so far this season, with their last victory coming in round 8 by just 14 points.
Khy Stovell and William Gibson have been a thorn in Hay’s side so far in 2023, with both players among the Swans’ bests in each match.
While Stovell has proven himself a consistent goalkicker this season, Hay coach Mick Cattanach was expecting a big game from all his defenders, in an effort to try and counter the class Moulamein possess in their front half.
“We’ll be looking to our leaders down back, like Brad Pocock and Luke Arandt, to really step up and make sure that whoever they line up on, they do a good job and nullify their influence,” Cattanach said.
“Both teams are evenly matched across the ground I feel, but their forward line is very talented and our backs are really going to have to win their one-on-ones for us to have a chance.”
Arandt will return to the side for Hay, along with Dom Booth and Andrew Low, while Tom Spence, Jack Headon and Tom Davies will all miss, while the Swans are likely to have just the one change, with Anthony Daw expected to come back into their line-up.
Swans senior coach Heath Moloney was well aware of what was at stake.
“It’s definitely one of the bigger games we’ve played for the year,” Moloney said.
“They’re coming for our second spot and we’ll be doing anything we can to keep it.
“Both teams have had a few players out both times we’ve played each other, but from what we’ve seen against them I think we have the players to match them.
“We’ve got a tough forward line to match up on, so we’ll have a bit of a focus there – but it’s as much about our midfielders getting their hands on the ball first and giving our forwards plenty of opportunities to hit the scoreboard that will win us the game.”
While both teams are in good form, Moulamein’s past fortnight has really made everyone sit up and take notice, with a 119-point win over Macorna following a 110-point win over Murrabit.
“If (Moulamein) do get a run on, we will need to shut it down pretty quickly,” Cattanach said.
“They’re a side that if they get a hold of you, they can do a lot of damage in a short period of time.
“They’re kicking seven, eight, nine goals in a quarter when they get going, so clearly we’re going to have to be defensively minded and we can’t let them get that level of momentum up at any stage in the game.”
The other match of significant interest will be between Wandella and Murrabit, with the bottom two sides set to battle it out for the wooden spoon.
While the loser will more than likely claim the dreaded prize, the winner will more importantly keep their finals hopes alive, as they close the gap to fourth-placed Macorna to four points.
That will be dependent on the Tigers’ home game against Ultima.
Macorna will welcome back Alex Ingleton, but will lose Nick Ingleton, while Ultima will also be forced into a change, with Will Nelson replacing Darcy Farrell, who injured his shoulder in the Roos’ 87-point win over Wandella last Saturday.
