By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
PREVIEW – SECOND SEMI-FINAL
NARRE WARREN (1st) v BERWICK (2nd)
Saturday 1 September, Holm Park Reserve, 2.00pm
THE RECENT HISTORY:
Round 16, 2018: Berwick 8.19 (67) defeated Narre Warren 4.6 (30)
Round 7, 2018: Narre Warren 13.10 (88) defeated Berwick 10.19 (79)
Round 2, 2018: Narre Warren 8.11 (59) defeated Berwick 5.10 (40)
Grand Final, 2017: Berwick 15.9 (99) defeated Narre Warren 5.12 (42)
THE STATS THAT MATTER….
It’s no secret that Narre Warren does most things well, but their ability to pile on mammoth scores has made them a frightening prospect for all sides this season. What is extremely impressive is the spread of goal kickers in the side, with Nick Scanlon (37 goals), Stewart Scanlon (29), Aaron Wilson (24), Mitch Cox (21), Tom Miller (17), Trent Shinners (15) and Trent Cody (14) all averaging over a goal a game.
On the flip side, Berwick have an incredible ability to hold sides from scoring for long periods of times in games, and one of the keys to beating the Magpies will be to shut down their impressive forward line. The Wickers held Cranbourne goalless in the first half last week, and back in the Round 16 clash with the Magpies, only conceded nine points in the first half. The likely return of Jo West will be vital in combating Matt Shinners’ side.
Narre Warren players to watch: Michael Collins, Brad Scalzo, Trent Shinners, Nick Scanlon
Berwick players to watch: Madi Andrews, Travis Tuck, Harrison Money, Bryce Rutherford
WHAT THE COACHES SAY:
“We take nothing for granted, and we’re under no illusions about the challenge of playing the benchmark of the competition. They’ll be fresh and ready to go, so we need to bring everything we can.” – Berwick coach Stewart Kemperman
“They’re playing some good footy at the right time of the year, and with Madi Andrews to still come back in. Both sides will be nearly at full strength I would think come Saturday, so besides the weather, no one really knows what to expect.” – Narre Warren coach Matt Shinners.
THE TIPSTERS
Officer president Nick McLennan:
“An intriguing battle between two in form sides that could go either way, I’m expecting this one to be decided by single digits. Berwick looked in good touch last week against Cranbourne and have hit form at the right time. With Andrews and West expected to come back in and Money causing all kinds of trouble up front it’s hard not to back Berwick. Berwick by 5 points.”
SEFNL chairman Ryan Ford: “Berwick played as well as you will see in the first half last week against Cranbourne, in the way they set up was impressive and gave the Eagles little opportunity, however this week will be an enormous challenge against Narre Warren who rightly so have lead the competition this year. They are similar in so many ways, both highly skilled by foot and with many avenues to goal. It may come down to either of the stars for each side in Andrews and Scalzo coming back into the team. Narre Warren by 6 points.”
MORE: Recent history suggests these two clubs are extremely even. Both sides boast quality defensive units, a terrific mix of inside and outside players, and dangerous weapons in the forward half. The Wickers managed to take Cranbourne’s game away from them last week, and will be looking to do the same against Narre Warren. It’s going to be genuine superstars in Brad Scalzo, Michael Collins, Nick Scanlon and Mitch Cox up against the likes of Madi Andrews, Travis Tuck, James Magner, Bryce Rutherford and Michael Riseley. A genuine blockbuster awaits these two powerhouses, who will be desperate to earn themselves a week off and a grand final place.
PREVIEW – SEMI FINAL 1
CRANBOURNE (3rd) v BEACONSFIELD (5th)
Sunday 2 August, Toomuc Reserve from 2.00pm
THE RECENT HISTORY:
Round 16, 2018: Beaconsfield 8.10 (58) defeated Cranbourne 6.8 (44)
Round 8, 2018: Cranbourne 10.6 (66) defeated Beaconsfield 6.14 (50)
Round 2, 2018: Beaconsfield 6.6 (42) defeated Cranbourne 4.10 (34)
Round 17, 2017: Cranbourne 13.4 (82) defeated Beaconsfield 10.9 (69)
Beaconsfield players to watch: Jake Bowd, Matt Homfray, Taylor Joyce, Sean Dwyer
Cranbourne players to watch: Anthony Vella, Marc Holt, Brandon Osborne, Troy Tharle
THE STATS THAT MATTER…
The importance of Beaconsfield key forward Taylor Joyce can’t be understated. Since coming back after a stint at Doveton in Round 6, Joyce has slotted 30 goals, and adds another element to a forward line that struggled for goals earlier this year. Since coming across, the Eagles have actually had a 6-5 record and – despite a couple of blemishes – have been able to drastically improve their scoring from 84 points a game to 96.
Cranbourne were badly beaten in the contest and were blown away by the clearance work of Travis Tuck, who had over a dozen clearances for the Wickers in the qualifying final despite some work going into trying to negate his influence. With Scott Meyer to return, a big lift in the middle by the likes of Luke Bee-Hugo, Shaun Marusic, Ryan Davey and Michael Wenn will give plenty of cleaner entries for the forwards.
WHAT THE COACHES SAY:
“We know it’s not going to be easy this week, Beaconsfield are one of the in-form sides. We’re probably not in the touch we were going back four weeks or so. We know it’ll be tough, but we need to re-group and keep working hard knowing it doesn’t take much to turn things around.” – Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien.
“They’re a good side and they do play an extremely attacking brand so we invested the time into them earlier in the year knowing we had them again and possibly in the finals. We will be going in with a ‘leave nothing on the table’ attitude and the belief that ‘anything is possible’. That’s the beauty of coaching such a young side.” – Beaconsfield coach Leigh McQuillen.
THE TIPSTERS:
Officer president Nick McLennan:
“An interesting contest between two young, fit and fast teams. Beaconsfield had the better of Cranbourne the last time these two teams met, but I don’t think this will be repeated. Cranbourne’s bigger bodies, Holt’s strength and Jones’ run to be the difference. Cranbourne by 12 points.”
SEFNL chairman Ryan Ford:
“Beaconsfield are building momentum at the right time of year and have had a couple of impressive recent wins, and proved themselves as being up to the finals task against a determined Officer. Cranbourne have been near the top for nearly a decade and offer a different level of contest for Beaconsfield this week. They will have a strong resolve to stay in the finals race for 2018. Hard to knock good form and with a really tight defensive structure it’s Beaconsfield to win by 15 points.”
MORE: Both sides have had a drastic shift in momentum in the last month, with Beaconsfield suddenly playing the brand of football that had them right up there in premiership calculations in the pre-season. Cranbourne on the other hand are battling to find their best form, and haven’t used the ball to the level they had in the middle stages of the season. Leigh McQuillen’s side has actually had the wood over the Eagles twice this season now, and will take a great deal of confidence out of that knowing he will have champion ruckman Scott Meyer back in. But Cranbourne’s best is a wonderful sight, and they will back their senior group in to respond and qualify for a preliminary final.
