Can Nambucca Giant Killers Go One More?
What an upside down season 2011 has turned out to be. If you had told people in April that Grafton would be in the grand final and Nambucca Valley would be playing off in the preliminary you would have been escorted away by men in white coats but here it is. What’s more the Lions are a real chance of knocking Port Macquarie out of the finals race this afternoon at BCU International and making their first grand final.
The Nambucca Club is the newest in the league and has battled a lack of players and financial backers since its inception in 2005. They have played in the finals previously and ironically were eliminated by Port on that occasion. On the other hand Port Macquarie are a powerful club well run and with the largest playing list of all the sides. The Magpies have hardly missed the finals since they re-joined the North Coast competition in 1992 and have won two senior premierships and eight reserves flags in the past decade. So can the battlers of the competition possibly win this? In short, yes they can.
Port will start as deserved favourites. They matched Grafton for three quarters last week and have talent and experience all over the park. Greg Dean and Dean Nankivell are in outstanding form while Matt Lill, Damon Munt and Matt Newton are all potential match winners. Liam Carroll will relish not having to back up from U18s and will front up at every hard contest. And there will be plenty of those because one thing that the Lions do not lack is hard ball competitors and none harder than Luke Benson. Benson has been out with a broken hand until only a few weeks ago and simply has no sense of fear. I hear that he bungy jumps without the rope. Monty Schmidt, Jed Ellis-Cluff, Aaron Boatfield and Aaron Clarke are of the same ilk and their aging champion, Jim Angel, is having one of his best seasons.
This will be a fierce battle and a typical no holds barred finals contest. Can the giant killers get another scalp? If they can nullify Dean in defence and hold Newon and Munt up front they are right in this and I am not prepared to write them off.
Saints look to Bounce Back
Sawtell got a sharp reminder from Port reserves last week that they will have to improve to stop a ninth flag heading south. With a side boasting Jai Hardy, Les Cohen, Pat Gillingham, Kyah Schwartz and the wily old ‘Rockin’ Rick Johnson you would imagine that they have the talent but they must first get past an improved North Coffs today. North Coffs had a massive win in the first semi and have the services of club champion, and former senior coach, Darren Funston to lend support. Father and son duo Jamie and Adam Coad are solid contributors while Matthew Crispe, Brendan Norton and Nathan Harris all have senior experience. This should be a great game of football and not much in it at the finish.
Kangaroos to Bounce Back
Beaten by Port last week the North Coffs Kangaroos U18 will be seeking revenge against Sawtell/Toormina and are expected to bounce back today. The Saints are short on numbers but not on talent with the likes of Jake Saunders and Tristan Pennant but will find it tough as the game goes on as Brendan Norton, Jayden Wilson and Mitch Papley unleash. Big Nick Bailey had a good game last week and should dominate the hit outs.
Rod Macpherson
Last Modified on 25/08/2011 16:36