Jim Gordon preview the upcoming finals matches in the Mallee Football League

Second Semi Final at SEALAKE, Saturday 1st September

Walpeup Underbool v Hopetoun

The last time these two sides met, Hopetoun won and it was the first of two losses in a row for the Roos. Walpeup Underbool's mid season slump was the result of a bad run of injuries, some ordinary form and on that day they met a Hopetoun side at the peak of their performance. But things have changed since then.

Walpeup Underbool has got back almost all of their players who were out injured from that match, they have a great belief in their own ability and are in brilliant touch. They know that the window of opportunity is open.

Hopetoun deserve their spot on the ladder and the second chance. Although they have dropped matches during the season that they should have won, the Devils have played some great games and none better than last week when they were playing for second position against Beulah.

The Devils have found some good form at the right end of the season and with a full and fit squad to pick from they are going to be competitive against the Roos. It is the lesser known players like Chris and Scott Heath, Zac Robins, Quentin Willmott, Ben Reid and Dave Baulch who have really stood up in the last month to level out the side and get some consistency in the team.

Having Coleman Schache back into the side will bring valuable experience and skill to the team. His ability to win contests is second to none.

Both sides have stars on almost every line. David Piasente, Sam McDonald and Luke Nathan are in wonderful form at the moment and they will be pitted against a formidable midfield in Luke Carr, Deek Roberts and Anthony Baker. Both clubs could do with a dominant big man, it has been a problem all year for the Devils and the Roos have been missing Joshua Charles and this week Matt Palmer is doubtful.

The versatile Palmer suffered a heavy collision last weekend and will be a big loss if he doesn't play, but the possible return of Charles gives the Walpeup Underbool midfield a clear advantage.

Chris Chubb and Joshua Stone are also available after missing the last round. In a side that boasts as many stars as Walpeup Underbool, Stone's polling in the MFL Best and Fairest award gives you an idea of not only his talent, but also his value to the Roos. Coach Jeremy Rowe will return from several weeks out not only adding strength to the Roos' backline, but Rowe is a genuine leader and his presence on the ground adds a lot to the team.

In that previous meeting won by Hopetoun, the dominant players on the ground were Kain Robins and Bryce Wellington who between them booted ten goals. The match up on Robins will be a key for Walpeup Underbool as they know that if they can hold or at least contain the potential Hopetoun match winner, the game will be theirs for the taking.

With Palmer likely to miss, it may fall to Travis Latta or Jeremy Brown to pick up Robins. Both of these players were strong performers in Walpeup Underbool's one-sided win over the Demons and Walpeup Underbool have a number of key forwards themselves that Hopetoun will need to watch closely, especially if the Roos midfield are able to get first use of the ball. Kane Munro was outstanding early in the game last week and Wade Champion is a proven goal kicker and very dangerous up forward.

After the earlier games this season, you would expect that this should be the game of the year so far, with both teams eager to jump into the final with a momentum which is so important at this time of year. Expect a tough game early, but it will be Walpeup Underbool who go straight through to the 2012 MFL Grand Final.

First Semi Final at WOOMELANG
Sunday 2nd September

Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Beulah

Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers take on Beulah in the cut throat first semi final at Woomelang on Sunday. The Tigers have had the wood over Beulah this year winning both encounters even though the last one was by only one point. That result alone has set up what should be an enthralling contest this time around.

Not only will fans be treated to a great game, but they will have the chance to see Col Durie, winner of his third Russ Gravestocks medal for the Best and Fairest in the Mallee League in action as well as the runner up, Beulah's Stephen Saunders. The Tigers are expecting Durie to return from a shoulder injury after missing last week.

Beulah need to find other avenues to goal apart from David King. Their small forwards need to get involved and tackling and pressure need to increase in the forward line. Riley Lehmann is yet to really hit his best form and if he can provide the Blues with another goal kicking option, Beulah could be well on the way to a win.

The battle in the midfield should go a long way to deciding the result of this match. Brad Shannon has had another great year and together with Scott Smith, will be pitted against Durie and Jarrod Alderton who has been one of Sea Lake Nandaly's best this year. With Saunders in great form, Beulah might just finish ahead at the all important centre clearances.

Both teams have a very handy back six. Kim Hallam returned to form last week with a great game for Beulah on Kain Robins and he usually plays well against the Tigers. Tim Hill is a consistent performer at full back for the Blues and John Guthrie is a valued Tiger in the back half.

Beulah will need a lift in all areas of the game if they are going to be any chance of winning, much less any chance of making a tilt for the premiership. The Blues were disappointing against Hopetoun last week. This is a big game for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers. They have all football sides playing in finals this year and every netball team bar one, a great effort by the club. The Tigers had a wonderful finals series last year, playing off in the Grand Final, but Beulah may be just a bit to strong around the midfield and with David King kicking goals, should record a win and a place in next week's preliminary final.

By Jim Gordon

Qualifying  Final -Sale City V Heyfield.  Set to defend their two-time premiership title, SALE CITY will need to put an end to the young high flying HEYFIELD Kangaroos line-up who has won six of their last eight matches in a blistering second half of the season.

While their record over the past two months is hard to look past, it is perhaps their most impressive feat this season that has put their fellow finals contenders on notice. The Kanagroos are the only side to account for this week's opponents Sale City on both occasions they have met.

Returning to finals for the first time since claiming the premiership title in 2009, the Kangaroos like Sale City would like nothing more than to have another crack at Rosedale with Saturdays victors wish to be granted.

Perennial finalists over the past decade which has seen the club contest five of the last 10 grand finals, the Kangaroos will be eager to provide coach Adrian Cox with his first finals victory at the helm of Heyfield.

But standing between Cox and his side's first finals victory in seasons are the reigning premiers, a group mixed with dual premiership players and youth that have proven that they come to play on the big stage.

A standout performer, the Dogs attack on the title has taken a different path to previous title tilts with the side to contest the qualifying final for the first time since making a return to finals action in 2010.

Before a showdown against the minor premiers Rosedale a tough assignment awaits the qualifying finalists.

Prior to the sides round 16 clash Sale Citys Nick Hider was under no illusions as to what his chargers would be up against with a four quarter effort needed, "Last time Heyfield's tall's got hold of us and made it hard, but saying that they were good all over the park.

"We are a different side now; we are building on hopefully peaking at the right time of year and are hopeful having drawn some tough matches this year heading into finals that this will help ensure that we are ready to go come the first week of finals," he said.

While the cards didn't fall the way of City some three weeks ago, Heyfield assistant coach Jesse Leeds is under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits the Kangaroos.

"It was disappointing not to get the win last Saturday and carry that momentum, but finals are a different ball game," said Leeds.

If past results are any indication as to what may unfold on Saturday, pundits would heavily back Heyfield to continue their solid form against the Dogs but as Leeds points out past results will account for little when the sides run out.

"Sale City has proven they come good when finals come around, I wouldn't say that past results see us hold a mental edge.

"It doesn't matter what has happened up until now, we need to be the best side - be the best that we can be on the day."

While selection will cause some headaches for the Kangaroos' coaching panel on Thursday night with a full list to pick from, Leeds is confident they can get the match ups right and put their best side forward.

"We know where we need to match up, obviously City have three big names on the ball Josh Tollner, Jake Schuback and Nick Hider, but we won't be focussing too much on them rather on our game.

"We need to play how we want to play, we want them to be forced to accommodate for us rather than be forced onto the back foot.

"We have had a good season we aimed for a top four finish coming off the disappointment of last year and the sides worked hard to get the double chance and we would like to ensure that we get to keep that chance for another week," said Leeds.

Magpies to meet red hot Saints
ELIMINATION FINAL -GLENGARRY V COWWARR
GLENGARRY and COWWARR will meet in a replay of last year's qualifying final, in the knock out elimination clash on Sunday.

Playing supreme football combining miserly defence with high scoring, the Saints have conquered all before them in the second half of the fixture with their momentum continuing to gain.

It's this momentum that coach Cory Bannister hopes will put his side in good stead, against a side that has proven to be the thorn in the Saints side.

Dropping their past three clashes against Glengarry including the 2011 qualifying final along with their matches this season, the Magpies on paper appear to have the edge. But a lot has
changed for both line-ups since their round 12 clash.

On that Saturday in July, both sides end of season's ambitions hinged on the result of the contest.
Sitting side by side on the premiership ladder standings in fifth and sixth placed the four points were paramount in ensuring a top five finish. But since that Saturday plenty has changed.

Both clubs have hit their straps accounting for their more fancied opponents, and in their current form both can well and truly consider themselves the inform sides of the competition. Cowwarr's Cory Bannister notes that if there was a ladder for the second half of the season his side would be perched up the top of the table having only dropped one match over the past two months.

However, while Glengarry and Cowwarr's form has been blistering both sides fates will be sealed come Sunday afternoon at 5pm with Bannister hopeful that the Saints will have the goods to continue to build their confidence ahead of finals.

"We respond better when our backs are against the wall, and have done that after a slow start to the season," said Bannister.

"We wanted momentum coming into finals, and we have certainly been carrying that.

"Glengarry is the only side that we haven't been able to beat this season, on both occasions we haven't been at full strength so we haven't been able to test ourselves.

"They are certainly a team that we respect, they are as close to our side as any other that is going around in the competition."

And there are many similarities between the two line-ups across the ground with Bannister noting the midfield, forward and backline match ups as contests that will enthral.

"Both sides have a similar make up they have Josh King and Shaun Barnes up forward and we have our two prong attack of Chris Stasinowsky and Brad McBride, both sides have good midfields we boast Luke Cooper while they have Ryan Potter."

In their round 12 clash without a doubt the most absorbing duel of the game was the battle between King and Cowwarr's Morgan who found himself throughout the contest playing in different positions as he looked to create a spark for the visitors. Saints midfielder Cooper provided plenty of physical presence, leading from the front to be named among their best players. Ruckman Paul Joyce won the battle in the ruck with a lion-hearted performance in which he rucked all day against the Magpies rotating ruck stocks of Trev May and Aaron Winkler.

McBride had a dominant game up forward for the Saints, kicking two majors while setting up a number of opportunities. However on that day the Saints sorely missed Chris Stasinowskys presence, and will be bolstered this Sunday with his return along with goal sneak Robbie Ferguson.

It's the final countdown.......WEEK ONE FINALS:
QUALIFYING FINAL -Sale City v Heyfield, Saturday 25th August at Rosedale
ELIMINATION FINAL - Knock out Final: Glengarry v Cowwarr, Sunday 26th August at Heyfield

By Lauren Carey