Irymple v Red Cliffs
Tomorrow: George Gordon Oval courts, 12pm
RED Cliffs must be feeling like they are playing with house money now.
After a less than impressive run to the Sunraysia Football Netball League A Grade regular season finish line that saw them drop four games in a row and cede fifth to South Mildura in the penultimate round, the Tigers bounced back last week to reclaim their place in the five but then had to wait for Wentworth to defeat South in a mid-afternoon clash to confirm their long-awaited berth.
“I wasn’t following that game as I was coaching B Grade,” Red Cliffs coach Romany Bowen said. “But the girls were, and their reactions let me know what was happening.”
The Tiges’ win at Quandong Park provided a welcome reversal of form for the coach and her squad.
“It was definitely a good little win for the team, and they were all happy with themselves,” Bowen said.
“It wasn’t an easy game against Merbein, but we just settled more than what we had done the weeks before and then we did the things that we had worked on in training and it just fell our way in the last quarter and we were able to turn things around.”
One possible elimination test passed, now for the real deal against Irymple across the river at the George Gordon Oval courts.
“I haven’t really kept up with what they are up to and what they have done,” she said of the Swallows, who finished fourth on the table, six points clear of Red Cliffs.
“Our end of season wasn’t exactly how we planned it, so we have focused on what we are doing but we will approach it like we do every game and look after what we can do and see what happens on the day.
“We will see how they come out and adjust accordingly. Irymple are strong across the board but there’s no particular person we are focusing on. We just have to stick to what we know and what we do well.
“Anything can happen in finals and we are going to just enjoy being there. All I expect is for every girl to give 110 per cent.”
Shelby Trigg’s Swallows warmed up for finals with a relatively comfortable win over Imperials, but also acknowledges post-season play is a different beast.
“We are going to be sticking to basics,” Trigg said.
“We know Red Cliffs are going to be physical and possibly try to get into our heads early.
“So one of the things we have been trying to do all season is rise above that and play through it. If we can hang on in that aspect, I think we can go very far.”
Zara Copley looms as the Swallows’ biggest threat, but Trigg is confident she has the resources to keep the shooter relatively quiet with former Tiger Alice Leeder likely to get first crack at the star forward.
“I think you could say they are one and one this season, we’ll see who gets the better of the other this weekend,” she said of the intriguing duel.
“I have full faith in every one of our players. Especially down in defence where we have Alice, Sophie (Price) and even Sam Garraway … it just depends on the day and what’s required.
“The last time we came up against Red Cliffs our midcourt was incredible with the likes of Indi Spratt and Tarlia (Couzner) both playing out at wing attack and we add Shak Del (Shakara Delcastegne) back into the mix this weekend.
“We have got a full side, and we are very excited. We have so much versatility in our side now and I have full faith in everyone to do what is needed.”
