East Gippsland FNL Round 18 preview

MATCH PREVIEW

Wy Yung’s form slump couldn’t have come at a worse time, winning just one of their last three games.

The Tigers will be expected to win travelling down to Lakes Entrance, but by how much may be just as important. Currently sharing the same amount of wins as Stratford and Lucknow, just 1.65% separates themselves and the Magpies.

While Lakes have not had the season they wanted, they can at times prove to be a nuisance, which could ultimately be the downfall of Wy Yung’s finals aspirations should the Seagulls come to play.

MATCH PREVIEW

Despite sitting in fifth spot, Lucknow sit in the box seat to pinch a final berth.

All the Magpies have to do is win well and – with all due respect – considering their opponents this week are Orbost-Snowy, there is a fair chance of that happening.

Lucknow will also be hoping that Wy Yung either lose or have a close game against Lakes Entrance, or hope Lindenow defeat Stratford.

MATCH PREVIEW

Paynesville will host Boisdale Briagolong at the AJ Freeman Reserve.
The Gulls will have their work cut out for them against a Bombers outfit that is setting themselves for a big finals series.
Both sides have won two out of their past five games, although Boisdale Briagolong should win comfortably. If that comes to fruition and Stratford defeat Lindenow, the Bombers will claim the minor premiership.

MATCH PREVIEW

While tomorrow could be the end of his team’s premiership defence, Swans coach, Peter Morrison, is focusing on simply getting four points and letting the other results take care of themselves.
“We have about an eight per cent buffer over Wy Yung and Lucknow, who both have two winnable games, but that is a lot of percentage to make up,” he said.
“We have to do what we have to do and not worry about what they are doing because it has no effect on us. We have to win.”
Needing a victory to stay inside the four, Stratford found a way to secure victory against the Bombers last week. It needs to do that once again tomorrow. Despite the added pressure, Morrison thinks his team will answer the call.
“The boys were talking about how if they had won one more match they might not be in this situation, but I said to them if last week’s match wasn’t so important we might not have defeated Boisdale,” he said.
“When you know each match has some consequence it drives you to do better things. I think that was the case last week and hopefully it will be the case this week.
“The Cats are at the top of the ladder and they deserve to be there, but nothing is impossible.”
Momentum swung heavily the last time the two teams played. Stratford went from leading by 44 points at the first break to losing by 43 points in a remarkable turnaround.
If the Swans are to defeat Lindenow for the first time this season they need to replicate the same form that saw them jump out to a convincing lead early in that contest.
“They have very good players, but we kicked eight goals to their one in the opening term and led by 40 points,” Morrison said.
“A few things happened that shouldn’t have happened, but we get another shot now.
“I think if we have the same attitude we did against Boisdale we will produce a performance.
Last week we made a concerted effort to concentrate on what we are doing and not worrying about what they were doing. That came from me as well as a coach, we hardly mentioned their players.
“We will be conscious of (Luke) Dyer, (Darren) Allen and those blokes, but you have got to make it about your own group. You are in control of your own destiny then.”