A standout performer throughout the season, SALE CITY will contest their fourth finals match in two seasons under coach Hayden Burgiel with the man at the helm of the Dogs under no illusions as to the enormity of Saturdays qualifying final at Woodside.

QUALIFYING FINAL – SALE CITY V HEYFIELD

Finding their feet in the early rounds of the home and away fixture, the City express train clicked into gear taking no passengers as they claimed seven victories from their opening nine matches before being halted in their tracks by the thorn in their side Heyfield in round five.

The second half of the season has been just as impressive for the Dogs, with a further seven wins, a loss to Heyfield and a dead rubber against Cowwarr. City’s form holding them firm on a top three finish which Burgiel notes was their aim.

“We weren’t too concerned either way by the result last weekend, it was good to come back from behind to take the win, but we knew that we would finish second or third which was our aim,” Burgiel said.

“We didn’t want to be top, we didn’t want to have the week off it wasn’t the plan.”

Contesting an elimination final last season to work their way through to a preliminary final berth, perhaps Burgiel knows his chargers are better suited to continued match time. The coach will have an embarrassment of riches with a near full list to pick from with the exception of Mitch Evans who suffered concussion in the contest against Yarram.

“We will be at full strength having myself, Dave Piasente, Jake Schuback, Harry Kaandorp and Matt Lutze all in the side which will trouble them,” Burgiel said.

Boasting a line-up whose senior players have tasted the ultimate success, Burgiel will be looking to the clubs leaders whose influence is bankable to led from the front and take charge early. Burgiel knows that his side has the goods to match it with this week’s opponents Heyfield but is mindful that he will need to get the guys up and about more from a mental aspect than game plan and strategy.

“This week we need to get the guys ready mentally, get them mentally prepared to take on Heyfield,” Burgiel said.

The coach isn’t too worried about past results, the Kangaroos accounting for the Dogs by over five goals in their first meeting the margin halved to 15 points in their second encounter on City’s home turf.

“The first time we had a fair few out, and similarly second time around we had a number of key positon guys missing. I thought that we had their measure, a few umpiring decisions went their way which proved telling.

“Our style of play worries them and at full strength we should trouble them.

“If we look at how we played last year during finals and look to bring that same attitude it should serve us well,” Burgiel said.

Set to embark on yet another finals campaign under coach Damien Birss, grand finalists for the last three seasons HEYFIELD will need to claim the Dogs scalp to advance to the next stage of North Gippsland finals.

Taking a different path to finals than last year which saw the Kangaroos take all before them going through the home and away fixture undefeated. Heyfield has been forced to work hard in what has been a telling month. With the chips down, the perennial finalists appeared poised to miss out on finals action all together, but three straight victories saw the side climb into third positon to seal the double chance in a one point thriller in the final round.

Experienced coach Birss knows that finals football is a different caper and will be acutely aware that past results will account for little when the sides run out. His experienced line up to be pitted against a group mixed with dual premiership players and youth that have proven that they come to play on the big stage.

With the Dogs forwards impressing in a strong second half showing against Yarram, the Kangaroos back six led by Scott Anderson will face one of their toughest assignments, with the half back line needing to loom large and bully the opposition into forcing the turnover to allow them to create the run and drive from half back to set up their own opportunities in front of goal. It may come down to which side’s book ends can make the most of the opportunities created in deciding who will meet minor premiers Rosedale.

Bombers return to the finals fold

ELIMINATION FINAL – TTU V CHURCHILL

TTU and reigning premiers CHURCHILL will meet in the knock out elimination final at Sale City, with the Cougars making a late charge to secure a top five berth.

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

It’s that momentum that coach Jay Neagle hopes will put his side in good stead, with his chargers looking forward to a return to finals football.

“We played the second half last week with only two guys on the bench which made it hard on the rest of the team and we had a shot on goal to win the game late in the contest so I was happy with our performance,” Neagle said.

“Hopefully we can take that form into this week. I am sure our boys will be giving it their all this week.

“The side has improved from last year and are starting to understand good team football. We continue to improve every week so it is a credit to everyone involved.”

Boasting a game style that can be best described as fast and furious; the Bombers have little trouble in providing scoreboard impact with Stephen Hawkins (57), Brian Graham and Chase Saunders (48) sitting in the top 10 league goal scorers. But it’s not just the fire power of this trio of individuals that will have the Cougars defenders on notice, there are some 10 plus players that can step up and score a handful of majors at will and have shown time and time again this season that they are more than capable of burying the opposition with their scoreboard pressure.

“Our forward line has been performing well but it is a credit to the whole team, the forward line can’t play well unless they have good supply from the midfield and rebound from the backline,” Neagle said.

While TTU’s forward line is one that has gained plenty of attention from opposition backlines, Churchill’s fire power can’t be underestimated with the Cougars also not reliant on one big power forward kicking a winning score.

The reigning premiers are gaining momentum with coach Allan Chandler likely to make changes at the selection table, noting the return of several players from injury which will further strengthen his side in what has been an injury riddled season.

“We should get a couple back from injury this week so hopefully that holds us in a good place to progress another week,” Chandler said.

Churchill have shown that they seek to put games away as quickly as possible as evidenced last Saturday landing the killer blow in a bloodshed second term which saw them score eight of their match tally 24 goals. The Bombers can ill afford to allow the Cougars the same luxury come Sunday otherwise they will be relegated to playing catch up against an opponent that has all eyes on the prize.

“Were looking forward to this week, you battle all year to have an opportunity at finals and we are very happy to just have made it.”

The ledger stands at one all, and if past results of the second half of the season are any indication as to what may unfold, pundits would heavily back TTU to continue their solid form and topple Churchill but with season ending injuries to their two key on field leaders and tall timber in captain Luke Middleton and Neagle the Cougars may just have the edge.

“Their midfield and forward line were extremely dominating last time, (Brian) Graham was brilliant and we need to do something to curb his influence,” said Chandler.

“Hawkins and Martin were very good too, we know we need to be at our best to beat them after our last meeting.

“We will be really looking for a number of players to step up, as the team with the most contributors will probably win.”

By Lauren Carey