ROC under 18 coach Tony Ellett is expecting his side will keep its finals hopes alive when it takes on Beacy in Saturday’s do-or-die final.
By Mark Gullick
WITH the winner of the Berwick-Cranbourne reserves playing Narre Warren next weekend for the first spot in the grand final, an enthralling contest ensures.
Cranbourne holds the edge with two wins (by a point and 28 points) during the season.
Owing to the Eagles’ senior team having the first-week finals bye, Cranbourne’s second team will be boosted by several key senior players keen to maintain their match-fitness.
Goalkicking star Michael Theodoridis, hardman Andre Young, classy forward Jarrod Murphy, and veteran defender Troy Datson should play in the clash against Berwick.
Captain and Bill Williamson medallist Damien Whitnell will lead the Eagles, along with Daniel Baker, Troy Allan, and Daniel Tatham.
Berwick fields a team with many senior experienced players, such as Michael Hanigan, Tom Gillies, Tom Brennan, Bryce Anderson, Andrew Stent and Billy Carlyle.
Other keys for the Wickers are Tim Lyon, Jarry Buntine (24 goals), Michael Wake (20), Shane Brady (18) and Brad Miles (16).
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:PAKENHAM v BEACONSFIELD
PAKENHAM takes the home ground advantage – and recent history into its elimination final against Beaconsfield.
The Lions won their round nine meeting by six goals.
Statistically, Pakenham has the best defence in the competition, which challenges Beaconsfield’s ability to score.
Pakenham has several forward options, including Troy Farrell, who came third in the goalkicking, Jack Anning, who kicked 13 goals on the weekend and small but speedy Grant Barclay.
Other key Lions include Alan Benis, big man Sam Cole, Damian Talbot, Aidan Nooy, Alex Considine, Aaron Gray and playing coach Chad Shooter.
Beaconsfield will rely on Dale Hynes, Lachlan McKay, Dean Ziesler, Jason Budge and Michael Fisher to kick a winning score, while Patrick Chin, Michael Rominger and Brad Hollick should figure prominently.
The Eagles could be boosted by Budge, Dean Van Lambaart and Martin Allan, who played in the impressive seniors victory over Narre Warren last weekend.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UNDER 18s
Berwick v Narre Warren
BERWICK looms as the biggest threat to minor premiers Narre Warren, but the young Wickers must first overcome Cranbourne in the qualifying final.
During the year, Berwick defeated Cranbourne on both occasions, by 56 and 37 points, results that see the Wickers head into the match as hot favourites. The Wickers forwardline of Jordan Andrews (who kicked 50 goals to win the league goalkicking), and Mitchell Johnson (30), in addition to five other players that have scored over 10 goals, suggests Cranbourne’s defence may have its hands full.
Other prominent Berwick players are Hayden McLardy, Clay Tharle, Jake Weightman, Jordan Temopoulos and Jack Opteynde. Cranbourne will be led by Rian Healy (18 goals), Todd Roscoe (17) and Anthony Vella (14), along with Mitchell Lindsay, reigning George Gilmore medallist Brad Hermans, Matthew Weller and Jordan Shiels.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Roc v Beaconsfield
HAVING split their two home and away matches, the ROC and Beaconsfield clash will be tightly contested.
Beaconsfield defeated ROC by eight goals in round four, before ROC extracted a 39-point revenge in round 11.
With the senior coaches of these two clubs keen to inject youth into their line-ups, there will be plenty of players with big-game experience under their belts.
Beaconsfield’s forwardline should cause plenty of headaches with Jake Cameron (28 goals from nine matches) and Dylan Guinane and Ryan Van Der Staay forming a potent combination.
The young Eagles will rely on Thomas Hanney, Jake Aarts, Gabriel Bonacci and Tom Maker to supply plenty of drive. Brendan Gillen and Ashley Brown will shoulder the scoring load for the young Kangaroos, while Damian Richardson, Mitchell Wallace, Anthony Andrews and James Waldon shape as key movers for ROC.
James Canty, who was a regular senior player, has qualifed for ROC and shapes as an influential figure.
