Garfield full forward Mal McKenna booted 38 goals for the season to be the club’s leading goalkicker in 2005. By Ken Moore
TRARALGON will meet Sale this Saturday in the qualifying final at Maffra. Traralgon comfortably disposed of Sale in round 17, so a big question mark hangs over whether the Magpies can bring about a form reversal only two weeks down the track. Sale should enter the game better prepared this time around as it will not be coming off the sixday preparation and a physically draining game against Maffra.
A strong rumour exists that ruckman Andrew Johnson will return, which would give Sale better balance, more centre clearances and drive around the ground. On the downside it has injury concerns, Luke Bates, Nick Fowler, Justin McLay and Shane Fyfe all having missed last week. The word is all will be available, but whether all are 100 per cent fit is another question.
The Magpies have the superior firepower with Brenton Martin, Nick and Nathan Fowler and youngster Chris Aurish, but the Maroons have the better onball division with Greg Morley, Tom McQualter and Michael Geary, all topclass acts, and on recent form add Brad Smith, Joel Lont, Sean Fahy and Josh Pilgrim to its glittering array of midfielders. Outside of Paul McCulloch, who must be doubtful with a hamstring, and Dane McGennisken, who has been in redhot form over the past month, Traralgon relies heavily on crumbing goals so the Sale defenders will have to be at their tightchecking best if they are to restrict Traralgon to a losing score.
Sale was pleased to get back its organising general Stuart Anderson last week and, despite a hamstring inujry, he made a big impact off the halfback line against Warragul. There is going to be plenty of responsibility on the Magpies’ runners Heath Lange, David McLay, Russell McAdam and Kane Fraser to put in a good fourquarter effort if they are to win. The presence of Anderson and Fyfe is important because, other than Kane Fraser, who has played more than 100 games, the Magpies are very inexperienced. Sale bowed out of the 2004 finals in unlucky circumstances when it lost by a point to Leongatha and the bitter memories of this loss will occupy minds entering this series. Last time they met Sale should have been a long way in front at quartertime, but thereafter the Maroons appeared to have Sale’s measure. Again sheer weight of numbers around the packs should see Traralgon control the play and deny the strong Sale forward line an opportunity to kick a winning score. Last week Traralgon inflicted on Garfield its worst defeat for the season and beating the neversaydie Stars by such a comprehensive margin suggests it is peaking right on finals time. Traralgon should prevail and set up a second semifinal clash with Maffra.
On Sunday archrivals Moe and Morwell will make the trek to Drouin for the cutthroat elimination final. Moe’s finals hopes were in freefall before its round15 clash against Morwell, but it managed to turn its fortunes around against the Tigers with a comprehensive victory, and big victories in the ensuing weeks against Warragul and Drouin mean it can now enter the final series with renewed confidence.
The arrival of Dean Caldow and the return to form of Jason Shields has played a large role in Moe’s revival. These experienced campaigners have forced powerhouse forward Karl Mutke back to the under 18s and it appears that the Lions now have an embarrassment of riches in front of the big sticks. In Leigh Stevens, Chris Smogavec and Dean Horton, Moe has dangerous running options that can play midfield and forward to complement Shields and Caldow. Moe’s late resurgence has dispelled any thoughts that its earlyseason form was a flash in the pan.
Morwell enters the game at a season low. Maffra thrashed the Tigers last week and, while they showed character to roll Leongatha in round 17, they were left with a mighty injury toll. Morwell players have dropped like skittles in recent weeks and it will take a superhuman effort for them to stretch their finals campaign into the second week. From all reports, Shannon Russell, Devon Soutar, Martin Giddens, Tony Armstrong, key defender Michael J. Duncan, gun centreman Michael P. Duncan and ruck Don Webb are all likely to be sidelined. Morwell has the lowest aggregate points of all the teams in the top five and, to add to their woes, the loss of Webb deprives them of a key forward as well as a ruckman, for with 20 goals he doubles as its most potent forward behind Michael Mooney. Moe will progress to the first semifinal next week, which will be a mighty effort after it finished 2004 winless.
Qualifying final, Saturday, 27 August, Maffra: TRARALGON v Sale.
Elimination final, Sunday, 28 August, Drouin: MOE v Morwell.
