ROSEDALE and HEYFIELD will square off at Churchill in a mighty North Gippsland Football clash with the winner advancing to the grand final.

SECOND SEMI FINAL: ROSEDALE v HEYFIELD

Aiming to advance his side to their first grand final appearance under his coaching reign, Ben Macreadie’s side has been at the fore front of the competition finding their grove and hitting their straps in the second half of the season. The Blues express train have taken no passengers on the way to claiming eight straight victories and will head into Saturdays clash expecting nothing more than a tough contest.

Four weeks have passed since Rosedale and Heyfield last did battle. Going into the contest without having dropped a match in over a month, Rosedale were tested early by the Kangaroos whose finals ambitions were tethering in what was as an eight point contest, before shaking Heyfield’s shackles to run home eventual 27 point victors.

The man at the helm of the Blues isn’t focusing on past results, but is realistic of the enormity of the challenge having watched Heyfield last Saturday.

“It was a tough game as you would expect in finals football in a year where any of the top five can beat anyone on the day,” Macreadie said.

“We know that the slate is cleaned in finals and past results will account for nothing this weekend.

“The intensity lifts tenfold and contested football becomes so important. Whoever can win that early and get some scoreboard pressure sets themselves up for the win.”

With Heyfield’s seniors and reserve sides to compete on Saturday, positions in the line-ups will be highly sought with a number of tough decisions needed to be made by the clubs selectors.

The same will apply to the Blues with Macreadie noting that his side isn’t finalised just yet.

“There may be a few changes, but will know that more closer to the end of the week,” he said.

“There are a couple of niggles that came out of our last game but having last week off should have given them enough time to recover.”

Among the changes may be the inclusion of the Blues trump card, a trio of former AFL players who made their debut against this week’s opponent in the navy blue strip in round six. Ruckman Max Bailey, and midfield/forwards Andrew McQualter and Tim Clarke all in contention.

“They will come into consideration, yes.”

Set to go into the contest full of confidence following Saturday’s victory over Sale City, Heyfield won’t be getting too far ahead of themselves. Last year’s runners up having experienced firsthand just how fickle the game can be.

The Blues aren’t likely to show any signs of sluggishness following the week’s break, the well-oiled machine that is Rosedale have taken all before them this season and will be aiming to advance to their first grand final appearance in three years. Ironically, they aim to defeat the side that claimed the title against them.

Fully aware that the Blues have had their measure this season, Heyfield’s engine room will need to stamp their authority and dictate play on their terms, with the arm wrestle in the middle of the ground set to be an enticing one which will have a large say in the end result. But it is just not the engine room that will bear the weight of expectations, Kangaroos coach Damien Birss will be expecting a repeat performance from his key forwards with James Beha and Jesse Bedggood in impressive form.

Dogs not ready to roll over

FIRST SEMI FINAL: SALE CITY v CHURCHILL

Struggling to maintain their groove in a costly premiership term, SALE CITY will need to put a halt to the run and fire power of premiers CHURCHILL who come into the knock out final following a convincing 52 point win in the elimination final.

Not dissimilar to the Dogs attack on the silverware in 2014, Sale City will have to navigate the long path if they are to go one better than last year and make it to the ultimate round. But before they can look too far ahead, they need to weather the storm that the Cougars will pose.

Scrapping into finals contention in the concluding round of the home and away season, the Cougars pulled together what coach Allan Chandler described, following the sides elimination victory, as some of their best footy.

“If we are going to keep on progressing through this finals series that’s exactly what we’re going to have to do. We have to do that every single week,” Chandler said.

“Our second half is probably some of the best footy we have played, we put the pressure on.”

Wary of the Dogs, Chandler knows his chargers are fully aware there are no second chances come the final siren this Sunday.

“I am very happy with the way that we played on Sunday. We seem to be building, but we know that one bad performance and it is season over,” Chandler said.

“City have beaten us both times this year. We need to be better on Sunday that’s for sure.”

Whilst the ledger is in favour of the Dogs the contests have been far from one sided affairs. City sealing victory by two straight kicks in their round three encounter under lights on Anzac day. On that occasion the Cougars led at every change, extending what seemed like a healthy first term margin, before a second half comeback by a plucky City side saw the visitors pick up the league’s biggest scalp in impressive style 11.7 (73) to 7.19 (61).

Cue their second meeting and it would be again City. The Dogs opened the flood gates in a one sided 25 minute period of play which saw City break away from the Cougars with a six goal to one premiership term. Trailing by 39 points a purple patch by Churchill saw them make a late charge on the scoreboard to reel the margin back to 14 points.

On that day Churchill defender Brayden Kokshoorn wore City forward Jake Schuback like a glove, with Chandler acutely aware of the threat an on song Schuback can pose.

“They have good players all around the ground (Matt) Lutze, (Brendon) Rathnow, (Hayden) Burgiel, (Mitch) Bennett, (David) Piasente and (Jake) Schuback the list goes on so they are a difficult team to match up on. We know that we need our best performance of the year this Sunday,” said Chandler.

“Our entire team made contributions throughout the day on Sunday, we will be looking for another performance like that against City.”

With both sides renowned for playing hard and fair footy, there will be a number of deciding contests around the ground which could be the difference come the final siren. The Cougars back six is one of the best in the competition and generates plenty of runoff half back. The side’s small forwards are very effective and stood tall last week. Hamish Towns providing somewhat of an ‘X factor’ in an interrupted season, the lively forward booting six and can add several goal assists to his stats. Chandler will be looking to the likes of Towns, Nick Campbell, Tim Darby, Brendan Holt and co to continue their impressive form in the forward 50.

Like the Cougars, City boasts an impressive midfield led by Brad McKay, Ben Chivers, Jake Milham and ruckman Harry Kanndorp, with the quartet catalysts in enforcing the perceived pressure which put Heyfield’s running brigade on notice.

While Chandler knows that his side will need to negate the Dogs better players early the issue that he will have is that there is over a dozen key playmakers who during the course of 120 minutes of play can turn the game on its head, with the Dogs young pups’ eager to step up on the big stage.

By Lauren Carey