Border Mail | YARRAWONGA co-coach Drew Barnes is calling on his junior ranks to lift ahead of the grand final replay against Albury today.
He wants a four-quarter effort from the entire squad, not just the likes of established stars Craig Ednie and Xavier Leslie.
But Barnes said his team was ready to bounce back after a “frustrating” loss to North Albury last weekend.
The Hoppers kicked the deciding goal in the final minute, but the Pigeons coach said it should never have been that close.
“We know we can win this game, we’ve played the Tigers enough times in recent memory to be able to do it,” Barnes said.
“What it’ll take is a four-quarter effort from our whole side, not just the experienced guys.
“Those players are the ones on the bottom of the pack week-in and week-out and we need the same sort of fight we get out of them from the other 19 players.
“I see this game as a real opportunity for the likes of Tyler Bonat, Jess Koopman, Brady Pritchard, to step up and make their own mark.
“We need those players with maybe one or two seasons of senior footy to really step up.”
Barnes said the Pigeons had to eradicate the five-minute patches of play where they “go out of the game”.
He said it was a bad habit they could ill-afford against Albury.
“We saw last week that if you give Albury five minutes they will make you pay for it,” Barnes said.
“They’re a well-drilled, consistent side and we expect to throw everything we have at them.”
Connor Hargreaves trained through the week and is expected to play after rolling his ankle against North Albury, while Barnes tipped Brendan Fevola would return to form after being well held by Dan Leslie last week.
“Fev’s looking forward to playing on the big stage, it’s certainly something he thrives on,” Barnes said.
“I’ve been on the phone to him every day this week.
“Everyone has been up and about at training this week, so I’m anticipating a really good match in front of our home crowd.”
