SWAN Hill set up a virtual elimination final against NNW United this Saturday after a 26-point win over the Mallee Eagles.
Both Swan Hill and NNW United currently sitting outside the top five, but the winner on Saturday could jump back in depending on other results, while it could be curtains for the loser.
Swan Hill coach Cal Beasy is expecting a competitive contest between two desperate teams.
“It’s going to make it really hard (to play finals) for the team that loses next week, so there’s a fair bit on the line,” Beasy said.
“They’re (NNW United) always tough to beat at home and have proved that many times this year already – plus it will be the ‘Boofa’ Templeton Cup which adds a bit more to it for both sides.
“It’s going to be a big match this Saturday for sure.”
Part of Swan Hill’s planning this week will be around their starts, as they were slow out of the blocks against the Eagles on Saturday.
A four goal to two opening quarter gave the visitors an 11-point lead at the first break, but to their credit, the Swans hit back in the second term with five unanswered goals to open up a 19-point lead at half time.
The Mallee Eagles responded after the main break, lifting their work rate and pressure around the contest, but were unable to bridge the margin as the Swans ran out out 10.15 (75) to 7.7 (49) winners.
While the Swans were well below their best, they found a way to grind out the win, with Beasy pleased to secure the four points.
“It wasn’t our best performance, but it’s been a bit of a bad habit of ours that we start slowly when we’re coming off the bye,” Beasy said.
“It was mainly our own mistakes that held us back – it wasn’t a terrible performance, but it just wasn’t at the standard we set two weeks ago against Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
“It was just good to get the win, they (the Mallee Eagles) came out and stuck it to us at the start, but the boys fought on well and gained control.”
The Demons will also be looking to clean up their disposal efficiency on the track this week, according to Beasy.
“We controlled the ball and had it in our hands a lot more, we just turned it over a bit too much,” Beasy said.
“It was more our own undoing and our own inefficiency which didn’t allow us to break free a bit quicker.”While the Eagles midfielders were on top in the opening quarter, particularly Harry Allen and Wes Bennett, the Swans onballers soon turned the tables, led by Matthew Wade, Adam Manning and Luke Phelan.
The Eagles, who were under pressure in the second term, shifted Andrew McDonald down back to help stem the bleeding, although that only exposed a clearly injured Brent Macleod up forward.
The Swans didn’t walk away from the match unscathed, with Elijah Miliado leaving the field and taking no further part after a heavy hit.
Zac O’Meara was one of the Eagles better players across half back, along with Braidon Bennett, Allen and youngsters Jonah Devlin and Billy O’Meara.
FINAL SIREN
| Swan Hill | 2.3 | 7.6 | 10.8 | 10.15 | 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mallee Eagles | 4.2 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 49 |
VOTES
3 – Matthew Wade (Swan Hill)
2 – Luke Phelan (Swan Hill)
1 – Zac O’Meara (Mallee Eagles)
