Weekly Times | PICOLA United is preparing to embark on its first finals campaign in the Picola and District league since the competition split into two divisions in 2009.
Even before Saturday’s eight-point win against fellow North West division finalist Berrigan, the Blues were guaranteed a top-three finish and a double chance.
“It’s exciting. At the start of the year we set out to play finals and try to go as deep as we can,” coach Jon Varcoe said. “To be able to finish in the top three is a good achievement and now we’re really focused on being a successful finals team and club.”
Varcoe — a premiership playing coach at Waaia who has also coached Lancaster, Echuca and Moama — joined the club last year as an assistant coach and was elevated to senior coach this season.
The Blues’ challenger in the qualifying final on Saturday in Deniliquin is three-time reigning premier Jerilderie, which completed its season with a 103-point demolition of Mathoura.
The Demons’ Aaron Purcell, along with Yackandandah’s Trent Castles in the Tallangatta and District league, became the latest country footballers to reach the goal ton this season.
Purcell only needed one goal in the last home-and-away game to reach the mark for the third time in as many seasons. He booted eight to finish his home-and-away tally on 107 after 16 games.
Varcoe said the Blues were “quietly confident” of beating Jerilderie.
A win would set up a second semi-final showdown with minor premier Strathmerton, which would come off a two-week break courtesy of a final round bye.
“We’ve got belief that if we play our best football and bring our A-game that we can beat them,” Varcoe said.