Border Mail |JARRAD Farwell could easily have been lost to Henty as a youngster.
He spent his early days playing football for the Swampies on Saturdays and rugby league for Albury Thunder on Sundays.
Then came decision time when he was 18.
“I doubled up most weekends but I guess I had to make a choice,” Farwell said yesterday.
“I swapped over to footy when I was 18, mainly because I went to Billabong High School and knew the Henty boys.
“The past few years have been good.”
Henty would say Farwell, 23, has been a little better than just good.
He started off as a fringe player in defence before blossoming into one of the Hume league’s most damaging midfielders over the last two seasons.
One of the biggest problems opposition teams have encountered over the past month is the depth of Henty’s midfield.
Farwell, Heath Ohlin, Simon Hillier, Derek Singe and Josh Gaynor have been rock solid and look set to go head-to-head with Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock’s Luke Schilg, Luke Brauer, Josh McCudden and John-Roy Williams in Saturday’s qualifying final at Walbundrie.
Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock defeated Henty 19 points in round two before the sides played a draw at Burrumbuttock in round 15.
Farwell believes the Swampies have hit form at the right time of the season.
“I don’t think it was our best season in the home and away but we got to second after being fourth for most of the year,” he said.
“We set ourselves to win the last four games and seem to be playing our best football now.
“Brock-Burrum’s a great side though and it should be a good game on a fast track.”
Henty will regain Hillier and Michael Aitchison after missing round 20 while several Brock-Burrum players including Dean Murphy and Brauer face fitness tests tonight after being sidelined.
Gaynor said he was preparing for all of the Saints’ top-liners to play.
“We are just focusing on our structures,” he said.
“If we do that right, we give ourselves a good chance.
“Saying that we haven’t beaten them this year.
“We will plan for their strongest team and work from there.
“It would be nice if a couple of them were missing, but I doubt it.”
While Brock-Burrum is loaded with top end talent, the clash could come down to the output of second-tier players like Aaron Livermore and Darcy I’Anson.
- Saturday’s draw: seniors: Brock-Burrum v Henty; reserves: Osborne v Murray Magpies; thirds: CDHBU v Howlong; fourths: Brock-Burrum v Henty.
- Sunday’s draw: seniors: Jindera v CDHBU; reserves: Brock-Burrum v Henty; thirds: Osborne v Holbrook; fourths: Rand-Walbundrie v Holbrook.
