WOORINEN and a surging Nyah-Nyah West United will be playing to keep their seasons alive at Barham on Sunday.
The Tigers lost no admirers in last week’s qualifying final loss to Balranald, which was on a knife’s edge in the dying moments, and are favourites this week.
However, the Demons produced a withering first quarter in their elimination final against Lake Boga that stunned onlookers and confirmed their status as the real deal.
It wasn’t United kicking 7.5 that quarter, nor their fast and precise ball movement, that surprised.
Rather, it was their insatiable attack on the ball and pressure around the contest, completing 22 tackles by quarter-time to blow the game apart.
Woorinen coach Marcus Demaria was expecting a similar level of commitment to the cause from his team again.
“Constant pressure is the hardest thing to try and maintain over a season, but in finals it needs to come to the fore,” Demaria told The Guardian this week.
“One thing we pride ourselves on is our pressure and trying to create turnovers where we can in our front half.
“Our first aim will be to try and win the ball and be first to the ball.
“If we can get first hands on the ball and win some clearances, then try and maintain possession of the ball, that will help limit their ability to run and spread.”
NNW United co-coach Corey Daniels was similarly impressed with his opposition’s performance.
“(Woorinen) were pretty impressive last Saturday, I thought their pressure around the ball and their tackling was first-class,” Daniels said.
“It’s going to be pretty physical and a pretty hot contest, but we’ll but up for the challenge.
“We’ll be aiming to play our style of footy, we want to run and take the game on and at the end of the day just enjoy our footy.
“Hopefully our style can stack up and we can get over the line.”
Woorinen were expected to welcome back Mitch Taylor and Robert Rush, with Rush getting through last weekend’s reserves game after a shoulder injury.
NNW United’s Ethan Curran (shoulder) was set to be replaced by Dom Gallo, facing his former teammates for the first time.
In round 11, Woorinen won against an ill-disciplined Demons by 19 points.
Henry Thompson dominated, providing run and drive off half-back, and he again looms as a key player.
The midfield will also remain a key battleground, with Josh Domaille and Robbie Miller dominant for the Tigers last week, and Ethan Saville, Kayne Davidson and Jarrod Stokes equally damaging out of the centre square a week ago.
While United have the personnel to trouble Woorinen, Daniels also knew his onballers would need to take their game to another level if they are to progress to the preliminary final.
“We need to be really good around the stoppages and around the centre clearances if we want to go with them,” Daniels said.
“After quarter time last weekend, (Lake Boga) probably got a hold of us at the centre bounces and we were playing out of our own defensive 50 a bit more than we’d like.
“We can’t afford to do that against Woorinen just because of how they set the ground up.
“If we’re good at the stoppages and good around the ground, there’s no reason why we can’t win.”
At their best, the Demons are more than capable of causing an upset, but with a close game expected, Woorinen’s finals experience just tips the ledger slightly in their favour.
Tip – Woorinen by six points.
