MINOR SEMI FINAL PREVIEW
Finals are upon us and it is a big first weekend at Lawrence Park, Tathra. We have some cracking games on offer so make sure you get to Tathra to support your club!!
SEMI FINAL 1
SENIOR’S
Tathra v Bermagui (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 2:30pm
DEVELOPMENT
Tathra v BM Giants (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 11:50am
WOMEN’S
Pambula v Narooma (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 1:10pm
UNDER 16’s
BM Giants v Narooma (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 10:30am
UNDER 13’s
Pambula v Narooma (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 9:10am
UNDER 11’s
Bermagui v BM Giants (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 8:00am
Semi Final Preview
Senior’s- Tathra v Bermagui
With both teams playing each other last week there wont be many secrets between the two clubs. The Sea Eagles have earned home ground advantage and will be looking to take full advantage this weekend against the Breakers. With the likes of Dean Gartside, David Little and Adam Blacka likely to come back into the side the Sea Eagles will be close to full strength at the right time of the year. The Breakers are also set to get a number of players back in this weekend with Nick Lazzaro, Trey Parsons, Marcus Smith and Julian Shaw to come back into the team. With Bermagui running out of gas last weekend, having a full bench this weekend will help the side run out the 4 quarters with the match set to go down to the wire.
Tathra Player to Watch: Louis Coulton, Tathra’s best and fairest winner for 2017 by 1 vote. Coulton plays a large role off half forward.
Bermagui Player to Watch: Luke Moresi, Fearless and has a fair resume behind his play. Prediction: Tathra by 8 Points.
Women’s- Pambula v Narooma
This weekend’s matchup between Pambula and Narooma in the women’s grade should be a cracker. The Panthers have won both contests between the two sides in 2017 and will be looking to make it three from three. The Panthers have been without star Madi Whatman over the past weeks and at present has not been named on the team sheet for this weekends game. If Whatman is to not play this weekend Narooma will be extremely confident of winning this sudden death final. The Panthers come into this weekends game off the back of a loss to Eden whilst the Lions come into the fixture full of confidence having beaten Merimbula convincingly last weekend. On the small ground this weekend could come down to who takes their chance in front of goal.
Pambula Player to Watch: Lee Collimore, Pambula’s speedster as a wicked turn of pace which enable her to break free of the congestion into the open spaces to deliver the ball to her Pambula forwards.
Narooma Player to Watch: Zalie Betts, One of the youngest on the Narooma team, Betts has the ability to run hard for the full 4 quarters. Likes to get the ball on the outside and use her speed to get down the outside. Prediction: Narooma by 3 Points.
Development- Tathra v Broulee/Moruya
The Giants scraped into the top 4 with two wins and will likely need a miracle if they are to get the win against Tathra this weekend on the Sea Eagles home soil. The Giants’ two wins have come against the bottom placed Merimbula side with Tathra having beaten the Giants convincingly in their two meetings this season. The tough in close game style that playing at Lawrence Park will bring will suit the Sea Eagles who will look to win the ball out of the middle and get forward at every opportunity that they can.
Tathra Player to Watch: Michael Parker, Club best and fairest for the Sea Eagles, Parker has put together a solid and consistent season for the maroon and white.
Broulee/Moruya Player to Watch: Julian Nimmo, Nimmo came out of retirement this season for the Giants and has controlled the midfield for the Giants for the duration of the season. A natural at finding the footy. Prediction: Tathra by 40 Points.
SEMI FINAL 2
SENIOR’S
Narooma v Pambula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 2:30pm
DEVELOPMENT
Narooma v Pambula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 11:50am
WOMEN’S
Tathra v Eden (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 1:10pm
UNDER 16’s
Merimbula v Pambula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 10:30am
UNDER 13’s
Bermagui v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 9:10am
UNDER 11’s
Merimbula v Narooma (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 8:00am
Semi Final Preview
Under 16’s- Broulee/Moruya v Narooma
The Giants take on the Lions this weekend with Broulee/Moruya holding the edge in 2017 with two wins to one over the Lions. The Giants have been the surprise packet of 2017 with the side claiming second spot late in the season before surrendering it to the Panther in the final round. In their first season in the age group, the likes of Buster Ware, Lachlan Brennan and Will Aiken have been vital for the Giants as they look to put in a good performance this weekend. The Lions have had an up and down season in 2017. At times Narooma have struggled against the top three due to player availability but when at full strength the side has claimed wins against the Giants and Pambula and pushed ladder leaders Merimbula. With a number of the Lions squad bottom age players, this weekends match will be a good experience for the side and a win would be a huge boost.
Broulee/Moruya Player to Watch: Jack Hirst, Has been one of the Giants most consistent whilst flying under the radar of most teams. Hirst has shown great skill in his first full season and is only going to get better.
Narooma Player to Watch: Harrison Bromwich, Has the makings to be a great footballer in the under 16’s competition in coming seasons. Bromwich is a hard runner and tough at the contest. Prediction: Broulee/Moruya by 22 Points.
Under 13’s- Pambula v Narooma
Two sides that finished the season just 4 points apart are set to come face to face at Tathra this weekend. Neither side will have played at Lawrence Park in 2017 so the surrounds will be quite new to a number of players in both teams. The Panthers had top two aspirations in 2017 and although they sit in third spot the difference between themselves, Narooma and Merimbula is marginal. Both sides rely on some key players and if the Panthers are able to shut down the likes of Matthew Parker, Jake Mikolic, Kurtis Carlson and Thomas Druhan they will go a long way to claim the win. On the flip side the Lions will be looking to shutdown William Seach, Will Kellar, Billy Cooke and Zack Keogh’s ability to find the football in tight spaces. With one win apiece in the head to head battle in 2017, the second of the two fixtures showed the growth of the Lions with an 8 point win.
Pambula Player to Watch: Jai Van Camp, The Pambula backman will most likely get the role on J. Mikolic and J. Van Camp has held some of the best forward quiet in 2017.
Narooma Player to Watch: Kurtis Carlson, Although short in stature, Carlson plays a big game with the young Lion cub continually putting his head over the ball and claiming plenty of possessions across the season. Prediction: Pambula by 13 Points.
Under 11’s- Bermagui v Broulee/Moruya
It is shaping up to be an absolute beauty in the under 11’s this weekend with Bermagui set to take on Broulee/Moruya. The season series is tied at one apiece with both sides victorious on their home grounds. Both teams come into this weekend in red hot form, with both sides having won five of their last six games in the under 11’s since the mid season break. Bermagui have won their last two games by less then a kick and will be feeling confident that they can move onto the preliminary final in two weeks time if in the same situation this weekend. If it is going to be a shootout, the Breakers will need to improve on their accuracy in front of goal with Bermagui continually finding is difficult to manage more goals then points in season 2017. Bermagui will need to win 3 games if they are to go back to back in 2017. After round 9 the Giants sat 5th on the competition ladder and were looking at the prospect of missing the finals in the grade since their inclusion into the competition. The team turned it around at the turn and went on a winning streak which was only rivalled by the 3 teams above them on the ladder. The Perryman brother have been a good addition to the team in 2017 and they will have a big impact this weekend.
Broulee/Moruya Player to Watch: Tasman Simons, The inside mid has been exceptional for the Giants in 2017 winning the leagues leading goal kicker whilst making just about every rep team in the area.
Bermagui Player to Watch: Anthony Gannon, Has got better and better as the season has progressed. Has gone from a solid contributor to key player for the Breakers. Prediction: Bermagui by 4 Points.
