WOORINEN will be looking to confirm their premiership credentials when they face off against Kerang at Riverside Park Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers impressed in a 37-point win over Cohuna last Saturday, but taking on the reigning premiers will pose a much bigger challenge.
Adding to the challenge, the Blues welcome back three key players from injury, Adam Baird, Lachlan Ross and Jarryd Pertzel.
Woorinen lose key defender James Gleeson, who suffered a hamstring injury last week.
The performance against the Kangas was built off a strong defensive effort by the back six.
Woorinen coach Marcus Demaria said the team had been working on its press, covering space and taking opposition space away.
“You could see the difference in our game against Cohuna,” Demaria said.
“Our offence will take care of itself off the back of good defence, so hopefully we can continue down that path.
“It’s probably a bit easier to defend our ground than it will be on the bigger grounds, so that will be the next challenge, starting with Kerang.
“The way we were able to set up last week, certainly in the second quarter, where we were able to lock the ball in our front half, is the way we want to play.”
Kerang coach Troy Coates said the reigning premiers would be focusing on controlling the game out of the middle.
“(Woorinen) have some really talented midfielders themselves, but I’d like to think we rotate pretty heavily through there and have the deeper midfield,” Coates said.
“Our starting midfield will probably be (Adam) Baird, (Josh) Nitschke and Marty Kelly, and then the next three will be Brad Pay, Sam Heavyside and either Josh Hann or Tyson Clingan.
“That’s where we like to think we can get on top of sides, that our next three coming in after our first three are just as good.
“I know we lack a bit of depth in the big man department, but if we can impact with our midfield depth and our running ability, that’s where we feel we can get sides.”
To compete in the midfield battle, Tigers Jye Barry, Josh Domaille, Lachlan Warburton and Regan Vesty will all needing to be at their best.
The other battle that will have a big say in the result will be the ruck, where Nick Lang and Arnold Kirby are both considered among their team’s most influential players.
While the Blues will be aiming to get on top out of the middle, much of Woorinen’s forward entries begin from half-back.
Taylor Cameron, Henry Thompson, Matthew Gardner and Doug Beames were influential in not only intercepting any errant forward-half entries from the Kangas last Saturday, but in also moving the ball quickly and effectively through the centre corridor.
Both teams are very similarly structured up forward, having one tall target and a bevy of smaller, creative forwards at their disposal.
While Lachlan Gardner, Clayton McCartney and Josh Stone are capable of winning a game off their own boot, they aren’t quite as effective as Archer Dibsdale, Caleb Nitschke, Pay and Heavyside just yet – and it may well be that quartet’s class that gets Kerang over the line in yet another classic encounter between the two clubs.
Tip – Kerang to win by 10 points.
