NNW UNITED
COACHES – Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy
KEY PLAYER
Joel Walsh
Won his third Pat Phelan Medal as NNW United’s best and fairest a fortnight ago after another stellar season across half back.
Missed four games with a badly corked leg recently, including the Demons’ 15-point win over Koondrook-Barham in round 15, but returned against Balranald a week later.
Was also among NNW United’s better players against Tyntynder in their final home-and-away match of the season and will be among the players to watch with his ability to intercept any errant Raiders’ forward entries and use the ball efficiently coming out of defence.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can the Demons onballers turn the tables on Koondrook-Barham’s midfield?
It’s fair to say that NNW United’s onballers have been well beaten by Koondrook-Barham out of the middle both in their round 2 loss and round 15 win this season.
While the Demons might have the Raiders covered for outside run and speed, they haven’t been allowed to showcase it in their two encounters until the final quarters of both games.
Both times Koondrook-Barham have been able to keep the game played in close and even though the Demons claimed the four points a month ago, they were far from convincing around the stoppages.
Ethan Saville, Brady Davidson and Jordan Iudica will be keys for the Demons if they are to get their hands on the ball first, especially opposed to contested ball winners Benji Neal and Lee Dale.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM
COACHES – Marcus Demaria and Benji Neal
KEY PLAYER
Roy George
Comes into Sunday’s elimination final on the back of a five-goal haul against Swan Hill last weekend.
Has played five games for the Raiders since making the switch from Tyntynder mid-season, having split his time between the Central Murray and Port Melbourne and Casey Demons in the VFL.
Is dangerous either in the midfield or up forward, where his speed and elusiveness can trouble the most diligent defenders.
Is the type of player than can break a game open with a 10-minute patch of brilliance and will be the one the Raiders turn towards to get them going.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Who plays on Patrick Veszpremi?
Veszpremi has kicked 15 goals from six matches for the Demons, including four against the Raiders last time and was the most dangerous forward on the ground.
Reagan Hamilton couldn’t go with the Demons spearhead on the lead back in round 15 and while he might have the size, won’t be helped by coming into the match under an injury cloud.
Isaac Corvo is another option and should be Marcus Demaria’s number one choice, even though he has also been used at times through the midfield.
The other option, which is a bit more left-field, could be Ryan Bassett, who did an admirable job playing loose in defence when Koondrook-Barham last played the Demons.
KEY MATCH-UP
Blake Larkings v Jacob Barrington
Jacob Barrington has proven himself to be a real thorn in the side of the reigning premiers in 2025.
The Raiders ruckman took the points against Blake Larkings back in round 2 after giving his midfielders first use around the stoppages, before backing it up with a best on ground performance against the Demons in round 15.
Has been among Koondrok-Barham’s most improved players this season and will need to be at his best against Larkings, who has showed a liking for the big stage in last year’s finals series.
MATCH PREVIEW
NYAH-Nyah West United will have to do it the hard way if they are to defend their premiership title this season, with the Demons kicking off their finals campaign against Koondrook-Barham on Sunday.
The Demons will return to the scene of last year’s triumph this weekend, with the Raiders returning to the finals for the first time in six years after jumping into fifth place at the expense of Tooleybuc-Manangatang last Saturday.
Koondrook-Barham were ultra-impressive in disposing of Swan Hill by 117 points last weekend and ending a three-match losing streak that also included a 15-point loss to the Demons in round 15.
While the Raiders were slogging it out against the Swans last Saturday, the Demons on the other hand were making the most of a well-timed bye, according to NNW United co-coach Jason Murphy.
“It (the bye) just took the pressure off a little bit, we’ve had a bit of a torrid time with injuries this year so to have that week off leading into the finals was really good,” Murphy told The Guardian this week.
“We had a good blowout on Saturday morning and the boys run about 10 or 12 kilometres.
“We had a go at trying to mimic a game as best we could and everyone got through that, but it was nice to just rest a couple of guys who were a bit sore too.”
The Demons will regain dashing half back Jaydyn Stirling for Sunday’s match, with Max Thompson also available pending selection with Bendigo Pioneers commitments.
Koondrook-Barham will also see the inclusion of a key defender, with Isaac Corvo set to return after missing the past four matches.
Reagan Hamilton (ankle) and Jacob Barrington (finger) are expected to be available despite finishing the game on the bench last Saturday, with vice-captain Patrick Goble (leg) less likely to take his place in the side for the cut-throat match.
With a one win, one loss record against the reigning premiers this season, the Raiders will go into Sunday’s elimination final confident of causing an upset according to Marcus Demaria, with both teams appearing evenly matched.
“We know our best footy can match it with some of the top teams, but we just have to do it more consistently,” Demaria said.
“I think the guys are fairly optimistic that we can compete with them (NNW United) and we’ve seen it with the results this year.
“We played some pretty good footy against them in the second game this year, we were missing some key personnel, as were they, but I’d like to think that us at our best with being inside the contest and getting the ball on the outside, we would be able to put ourselves in it to be there at the end.
“I’d like to think that we’re a pretty good chance, but we’re going to have to be playing some decent footy and even though we’ve shown plenty potential in patches, now we have to get ourselves to that next level and perform well on the big stage.”
The midfield looms as a key battleground between the two clubs, with the Raiders’ ability to win first use of the ball a key factor in their climb up the ladder this season.
It’s also an area of the game where they have had the wood over the Demons in their two meetings this year, with Benji Neal, Jack Shannon and Lee Dale all dominating back in round 2, before Goble, Matt Bilton and Jack Thrum followed suit at Nyah.
“Their (Koondrook-Barham) midfield has got us a couple of times now,” Murphy said.
“The challenge is on our boys to respond and recent history tells us that their midfield beat us quite comprehensively in clearances and contested ball.
“Add Roy George into that mix, who we haven’t played at all this season and we’re going to need to be at our very best to at least equalise in the middle and get some territory.”
While the midfield shapes to be where the match will be won and lost, the Demons could well hold the advantage at either end of the ground, with Joel Walsh, Joel Campbell and Nash Richman in defence and Patrick Veszpremi, Corey Daniels and Charlie Boulton up forward all capable of turning the game in the reigning premier’s favour.
Tip – NNW United to win by 10 points.
