By Tyler Lewis
NAB LEAGUE
PREVIEW – SEMI-FINAL
GIPPSLAND POWER v WESTERN JETS – IKON PARK, SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER, 1.30pm
LAST WEEK:
In one of the matches of the year, the Gippsland Power went down to the in form Oakleigh Chargers 12.3 (75) to 12.11 (83).
If it wasn’t for a late goal to Oakleigh on the stroke of the full time siren, it would have been less than a kick separating the sides.
Sam Flanders was simply ridiculous – the forward/mid was demonstrating forward craft and grunt against the reigning runners up and current premiership favourites.
With four goals, 27 disposals and seven tackles, Flanders had one of the best NAB League quarters seen throughout the year.
With 12 disposals, four goals and two tackles, he compiled 77 AFL Fantasy points in the 25 minutes in the second term alone.
But it unfortunately wasn’t enough for the Power to get over the line as the Chargers snuck home with a strong final term in the driving rain.
The Western Jets, meanwhile, ran home winners against Northern Knights after trailing at the final break.
The Jets were down by three points at the final huddle before booting three goals to one in the final term to claim the 12.5 (77) to 11.3 (69) victory.
The NAB League’s leading goa kicker Archi Manton continued on his merry way with a four goal and best afield performance.
Manton was crucial in the victory, kicking two of the final term goals to secure the win for the Jets.
Will Kennedy who spent some time playing for the Frankston Dolphins this year was also named in the best, delivering silver service to his midfielders and having an impact around the ground.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
The two sides met within the National Carnival period where both sides had some talent missing through the championships.
The Jets dealt the Power its third loss for the season, 7.5 (47) to 9.11 (65).
Western held Gippsland goalless in the second term, which ultimately set up the victory as the Power stormed home late, but the horse had already bolted.
Harvey Neocleous was best afield with four goals for the Power while Westerns inaugural Morrish Medallist Lucas Rocci was dominant.
WHAT THEY SAY – POWER COACH RHETT MCLENNAN:
“He (Archi Manton) is one we will have to put some time into, Emerson Jeka is another one – they are two really quality forwards in this standard of competition, so we will have a chat about who is our best match-up.
“Mitch Benveltzen did a fantastic job on (Cooper) Sharman this week.
“He is a little bit undersized but has great athleticism and sticks to a task really well, he might be the man perfectly suited for Manton.
“We need to keep a similar game style to last week; we just need to do it for the full 100 minutes.
“We can see what it can do to football sides but we can also see what can happen when it drops off, we then become exposed – we just need to be stronger for longer and give ourselves a chance to come away with the victory.
“There will be time that Sam Flanders plays forward, there will be times that Riley Baldi plays forward and there will be times Caleb Serong plays forward.
“That is what we think is one of greatest strengths in regards to our midfield, they all have forward craft – in regards to Sam, it was great that he got on the end of a few but we know Riley had five or six shots against Bendigo and Caleb has kicked bags before.
“It might not be Sam’s turn this week, it might be the others turn – as long as our supply to them is the way we want it to be then we will back our guys ability to give us a decent score.”
WHAT WE SAY:
The Power is the only remaining Vic Country side left in the finals.
With Country being the team to beat in the championships, it is a testament to how much talent is on the Gippsland list.
They may have gone down to the Jets in the last outing, but the Power was only just short of booking itself a preliminary final ticket.
With arguably the two best sides in the competition playing off on the weekend, it is hard to see the Power not fighting into a preliminary final for another chance at Oakleigh if they are to make the big dance.
Prediction: Gippsland by four goals
