THERE is more than just a victory at stake for the Central Highlands Football League tomorrow.
Highlanders senior coach Shane Skontra says success is vital in the interleague encounter with Ovens and King so that the competition can continue to climb the VCFL country championship rankings, of which it sits way down the chart in 25th position following last year’s triumph over Ellinbank and District.
“It’s really important that we do win because falling back will cost us two or three years in the rankings system. We have got to make sure we make it count on Saturday,” Skontra said.
“It’s tough down the bottom of the rankings because there is a few teams that have come in that haven’t played interleague for a while.
“There’s some fierce competition, and once you get through to the middle, we think we are a bit of a chance as a league to move through the ranks.”
Skontra put his team through its final paces at training last night, where Skipton’s Tyrone Ross was a withdrawal due to hamstring tightness.
As a result, the Emus’ recruit will not be part of the Highlanders’ final 22, which was announced after the session.
Also confirmed last night was that Buninyong’s Jarrod Morgan and Daylesford’s James Evans will share the role of vice-captain alongside skipper Adam Sewell, from Newlyn.
Skontra, who left James Sullivan (Bungaree), Joel Maher (Bungaree) and Caleb Hepworth (Creswick) out of the team and named the trio as emergencies, said he was pleased with the side that had been assembled.
“We’ve got pace, we’ve got leadership, we’ve got lock-down players and guys capable of kicking goals. We’re looking for an even effort and if we get that we’ll be in the mix,” he said.
Springbank sharpshooter Tom Eltringham will be the main focus up forward tomorrow, but Skontra is not concerned by the perceived lack of marking goal-kicking options through injury or unavailability.
“If we can get our structures right and get the ball down and they present well, I think we can still kick a score to win,” he said.
Tomorrow’s clash is played at Buninyong and will kick-off from 1pm.
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