Weekly Times |
STRATHMERTON co-coach Shaun Downie says it will take a team effort to stop Jerilderie goalkicking machine Aaron Purcell in Saturday’s Picola and District league North West division grand final.
Speaking after the Bulldogs’ 167-point preliminary final demolition of Berrigan on Saturday, Downie nominated Andrew Ellis as the man to have first crack at taming Purcell.
But Downie stressed it would be up to Ellis’s teammates to ensure the defender’s job was made easier.
“He (Ellis) has done a good job on Purcell all year,” Downie said.
“He (Purcell) is going to kick goals because he is a bloody good player, but it is all about what the supply is like going into their forward line.”
Purcell, who booted 120 goals in the home-and-away season, has kicked 21 goals in three games against Strathmerton this year, including an 11-goal haul in the Demons’ second semi-final win a fortnight ago.
Jerilderie heads into this weekend’s decider as a slight favourite.