Kinglake got a pair of hammerings last time they came up against Yarra Junction and Seville, but they’ll be hoping it’s a different story on their home patch, a patch they haven’t lost on this year.
Only Gembrook-Cockatoo and Yarra Glen have gotten within 20 points of Andrew Fairchild’s men on their home deck.
One will be the speed at which Yarra Junction move the ball. They were torn apart in two seperate instances when they met last time, with the Eagles have two periods of five to six goals in 10 minutes. The Lakers will be looking to control the ball with a high possession game.
The other will be their own tendency to fade out of games. In all of their losses the Lakers have been smashed in the second half. They conceded 12 goals to three against Junction, 10 to four against Seville and 14 to one against Powelltown a fortnight ago.
These sides are very likely to play each other in the first week of finals, so John Holmes will be wary of both the ascendancy in the head to head battle, but also the possibility of unnecessary injuries. The Eagles know how to time their run though, so whatever they do, keep the faith.
If they can stop the service to Stewart, Stewart and Howard, they’ll be better off then trying to thwart the impressive trio.
It’s a big job to take on Tomlinson, Martin, Paget and Taylor but in Ash Gill, Rylee Nelson and Zoe Mason the Eagles might just have the personnel.
Finally in Division Two Alexandra will travel out to Yarra Glen as they look to resurrect their crumbling 2019 season.
The Rebels haven’t won since round 12 against Gembrook-Cockatoo and another loss here will kill off their finals chances as their poor percentage leaves them little chance of leapfrogging either Yarra Junction or Powelltown in the last round.
Yarra Glen copped a shock loss to Powelltown last weekend and whilst it won’t change where they finish on the table, it could give them an unwanted wobble on the eve of the finals.
Alicia Mortley, Nicole Moate and Chloe Gray dominated the last time these two sides met and promisingly for Yarra Glen, Mortley and Gray were impressive against Powelltown last weekend.
Should the Rebels get a vital win they’ll set themselves up nicely to take fifth spot.
It would leave them on 36 points, likely a game clear of Powelltown and Yarra Junction.
Powelltown have the bye in the final round and will most likely (barring a shock win over Yea) finish on 36 points, so a win for the Rebels would see them in the five, regardless of their poor percentage.
-PHOTO: Courtesy BH Photography.
