CENTRAL MURRAY PRELIMINARY FINAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 – NYAH RECREATION RESERVE at 2.30pm
MALLEE EAGLES v NNW UNITED
MALLEE EAGLES
Coaches: Brent Macleod and Harry Allen
KEY PLAYER
Darcy McGregor
ONE of the most underrated players is the Eagles line-up, McGregor gives the Mallee engine room a point of difference.
The speedy midfielder was electric in the final quarter against Kerang last Saturday, kicking two great running goals and providing a spark for his side despite the win being out of reach.
He has been among his team’s better players in both finals this far and was a key player in the Eagles’ four-point win over NNW United a fortnight ago.
His speed and attack on the footy will be vital in shutting down the Demons’ outside run, along with his ability to hit targets inside the Eagles’ forward 50.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Eagles win if Brent Macleod isn’t 100 per cent fit?
THERE is no denying how important Macleod is to the structure of his team, with last Saturday’s second-half semi-final fadeout all the evidence anyone needed to end that argument.
The Eagles went from a 16-point lead at half-time to a 19-point loss within an hour of football and although there were certainly other factors involved, the loss of their co-coach from the engine room was far from ideal.
He was in considerable discomfort after injuring his ankle.
The news out of the Lalbert camp midweek was all positive, however, with Macleod expected to be fully fit and ready to take on the Demons.
NNW UNITED
Coaches: Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill
KEY PLAYER
Ethan Saville
INSTRUMENTAL in NNW United’s 26-point win over Balranald on Sunday, Saville will need to be at his best if the Demons are to progress to their first grand final since 2016.
He is the No.1 contested ball winner in red and blue, and will be heavily relied upon to compete against the Eagles’ strong inside midfielders.
Saville will be the key to the Demons being able to compete around the contest and feed the ball out to their runners on the outside, as he did against the Roos.
He finished fifth in NNW United’s best and fairest this season despite missing two games with injury and has been named the second-best player in both finals for his team thus far.
BURNING QUESTION
Do the Demons have a ‘home’ ground advantage?
HAVING been undefeated at home this season, NNW United should go in confident of producing the goods when they face the Eagles on their own home deck.
The Demons’ last loss at home was last year in round 10, with the red-and-blue army winning their past 11 games at home, including a 54-point win over the Eagles in round 4 this season.
A home record such as that must be an advantage, if only a small one, with their comfortable surroundings at the very least helping to settle their nerves.
It certainly won’t win the game for them, however, and if anything, the Eagles should go in as favourites considering their four-point win a fortnight ago without key players Jayden Post and Darcy Hourigan.
KEY MATCH-UP
Brandyn Grenfell v Joe Halloran
THE difference between NNW United winning and losing could well come down to the performance of their spearhead.
Having kicked seven goals last Sunday against Brodie Fitzgerald and Balranald, Grenfell is expected to have a much tougher afternoon when Joe Halloran stands next to him.
The pair have had three intriguing battles so far, with the Demons full forward taking the points with seven goals in round 4.
Since then, however, Halloran has won the war, holding Grenfell to just one (round 15) and two goals (qualifying final).
If the Eagles full back can take the points for the third game in a row, it’s hard to see NNW United kicking a big enough score to win.
