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WEEK 2 FINALS PREVIEW | DIVISION 1

EFL Media’s Matt Fotia previews all this weekend’s action in Division 1…

Qualifying Final: Vermont v South Croydon

After 17 wins from 18 games, the Eagles had a well-earned week off last weekend. But after seven years without a premiership, the faithful are getting a lit bit restless. So for Vermont the real stuff starts now.

After Jeff Gobbels nabbed six goals in the first three quarters last weekend for Balwyn against Vermont’s opponents South Croydon, Jake Best’s value this weekend has gone up tenfold. The Dogs could not keep the strong, quick and smart Tigers’ talisman under wraps until the last quarter, and Best houses all of those qualities. Considering he kicked seven goals last time out and has 68 goals for the year, Best is a key this weekend.

South Croydon’s forward line houses Jake Tucker and Max King, the tall timber who have been massive all season down at Cheong Park. They’ll go up against a cohesive back line for the Eagles who have been led all year by the indomitable duo of Lachlan Carey and Rory Lehmann. If the pair of them can win their individual battles, the Eagles could have foot in the big dance.

Is it the Year of the Dog?  Despite being 27 points down midway through the third quarter and seemingly gone, the Dogs harassed, pressured and bullied it’s much more experienced opponent having a six goal to one last quarter to win its place in the qualifying final.

This was led by the impressive performances of tireless ruckman Trent Zomer,  on baller Miles Sewell who played the entire last quarter [bar a 20 second break for the blood rule] as the Dogs pressed home and the scintillating game of winger Frank Anderson. The gut running outside man was unstoppable in the last quarter, taking crucial marks, wining vital clearances and having at least five inside fifty entries alone in the final 30 minutes.

Despite a loss to the Eagles last time, South are riding a wave of emotion and will be boosted by the knowledge that Max King, Dale Walker and Matt Jones will all play this time out, after missing the Round 17 clash with Vermont.

Last Time: Vermont 11.23.89 defeated South Croydon 6.5.41 Best kicked 4, the Dogs finished the game with just 1 player on the bench.

Elimination Final : Balwyn v Blackburn

Halfway through the third quarter last week you would have been forgiven for thinking Balwyn had set up another showdown with Vermont at Bayswater Reserve this weekend. Alas the Tigers will have to do things the hard way if they’re to win a fifth flag in six years.

When its kicking game was on, the Tigers ball movement was fantastic and they sliced up the South Croydon defensive structures. It also enabled them to get quick entries to an impressive Jeff Gobbels who kicked six majors in the first three quarters. Jayme Gottliebsen was also good down back both defensively with his intercept marks and offensively , starting many a Tiger attack off the half back flank. Balwyn looked tired however as the game went on, and were out run by the Dogs in the last.

The frontal pressure and frantic energy from South Croydon looked to panic Balwyn and take them away from a kicking game which had performed so well throughout the first three quarters.

Blackburn completed its second win over Doncaster in as many weeks, which saw them go from possibly missing the finals, to having a shot at a preliminary final. The Panthers finished the game strongly, much like the aforementioned South Croydon side, to kick seven goals to one in the last quarter. Luke Conca kicked four in a best on ground performance, Ryan Bathie continued his good form with four as well. Sam Hudson kicked three goals in a small forward/midfield role and Tim Watkins found himself on the scoresheet three times as well in his return to the side.

The Panthers will surely look to model its game plan on that of South Croydon. They possess the necessary players to pull off a hard running, fast paced and pressured based game which successfully dismantled Balwyn last weekend.

Last Time:  Balwyn 16.11.107 defeated Blackburn 5.8.38 Balwyn had 10 goal kickers, with Gobbels kicking 3. A day to forget for Blackburn.

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