Jim Gordon previews this weeks Mallee Football League Preliminary Final match.

Hopetoun take on Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Blackburn Park in Ouyen this Saturday. The prize for the winner of what should be a titanic battle, is the right to have a crack at the formidable Walpeup Underbool outfit in the MFL Grand Final next week.

Both teams bring very good form to this game. The Devils defeated Beulah in the final home and away game of the season to win the double chance and they were by no means disgraced in going down to the Roos in the second semi. In the elimination first semi final the Tigers won a tight and tough contest against a very strong Beulah side.

Nevertheless Hopetoun deserve to be favourites in this game. They have already accounted for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers three times this season, they have a match winning superstar in Kain Robins at centre half forward and a midfield in very good touch.

Unfortunately for the Devils, they will lose Quentin Willmott this week with a broken foot. This multiplies Hopetoun's rucking woes as he has been their first choice ruckman and has been in some very good form recently. With Willmott out, the Hopetoun midfield will find themselves under more pressure.

Col Durie was great last week, just when Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers needed him. Durie will be faced with the combined talent of Luke Carr, Anthony Baker and Deek Roberts all of whom have had very good years.

Hopetoun did well last week to kick 18 goals against Walpeup Underbool considering that Bryce Wellington had little or no influence on the game. He will have to lift this week to give the Devils their best chance while Luke Milroy and Kain Robins will need to get amongst the goals once again. Tiger Steve Lyons will most likely go to the dangerous Robins.

Matt Wellington has added some experience and physical strength to the Devils' back line taking some of the pressure off Simon Cook and Ben Reid. Scott Heath and Dave Baulch continue their good form as the back six have settled down and work well together as a tight unit. With the Tigers missing Jarrod Arrentz and Corey Wight, it will make it a little easier for the Hopetoun backline.

The Devils should be able to continue their very good recent form and defeat Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and line up for another tilt at Walpeup Underbool. They had one hell of a go at the Roos last week and nothing short of that effort will be required against the Tigers who are a very experienced finals side and cannot be underestimated.

By Jim Gordon