EDFL semifinal preview

By Ken Moore
THIS week’s second semifinal at Bunyip will pit the reigning premier Catani against the ladder leader and heirapparent Nyora.
The game promises to be a ripper.
The teams have only met once this season, in round nine, and in that encounter 38 goals were kicked and the 18point margin was in favour of the home side Nyora.
Many spectators and club insiders said it was one of the finest EDFL games for many years.
With the likelihood of rain and more accountable defence goals are likely to be a lot harder to come by this time but expectations are just as high.
Catani’s pride has been dented by three losses this season but seldom have the Blues been able to put their best team on the park.
In recent weeks the cards are falling right for the Blues and they have a big chance of naming their best side available.
With Mounsey, Smart and Owen Fitzpatrick all capable of kicking a bag of goals for Catani and Nathan Osler and Dean Alger likewise for Nyora it will be a shootout between two potent forward lineups.
In Ruskin, Aitkinson and MacLean, who have all spent considerable time in defence in recent weeks, Catani has height, strength and mobility down back that other teams lack and this will ensure that the Saints are always within sight.
The battle of the onball divisions is a mouthwatering prospect with McFarlane, Andrew Stockx, Wiffin, Maroney and Paul Alger up against the Hislop brothers, Wilson, Huthinson, Hallas and Hendry.
With 15 consecutive victories, and big ones at that, Nyora is playing with selfconfidence and it should be narrowly in front when the final siren sounds and progress directly to the grand final at Kooweerup on Saturday, 10 September.
Both Longwarry and Kooweerup could hardly have been more impressive last week and this sets up a fascinating first semifinal at Nar Nar Goon.
Longwarry enters the game on a crest a wave after it touched up Ellinbank by 72 points.
After quartertime the Crows were seldom troubled and are now a far better outfit than the one that meekly surrendered to Catani in round 12.
Longwarry has displayed allover evenness in recent weeks and sharpshooter Glen Browney has been on fire.
Longwarry also possess good height and a sturdy defence that goes about the job unnoticed but very effectively.
What Longwarry will have in its favour is the knowledge that only two weeks ago in round 17 it beat Kooweerup by 53 points and looked to have its measure.
Furthermore Longwarry should enter the game at close to full strength but Kooweerup will have injury concerns over talls Simon Biszko (groin) and Adam Bertuna (hand), Peter Doll (hamstring) and Che Jenkins (foot) who must all be doubtful.
The Demons cannot be dismissed because many have had biggame experience in other leagues and they possess a most attacking forward line that can destroy teams if it is on song.
Kooweerup was superimpressive last week but in Longwarry it will meet a quicker, taller and more physical side and, as good as its return to form was last week, it is hard to see it engineering a turnaround against Longwarry this week.
First semifinal, Saturday, 27 August at Bunyip: NYORA v Catani.
Second semifinal, Sunday, 28 August at Nar Nar Goon: LONGWARRY v Kooweerup.