Border Mail | CHILTERN ruckman Kirk Wilson believes the Swans are thriving under the added pressure of playing cut-throat finals.
Since dropping to fourth spot after a final round loss to Barnawartha, Mark Doolan’s line-up has rebounded with wins over Rutherglen and Thurgoona.
They face their toughest test of the finals series against Kiewa-Sandy Creek in the preliminary final at Sandy Creek on Saturday.
“At the end of the day finishing fourth was a bit of a wake up call,” Wilson said yesterday.
“The comp is so tight and we dropped three or four games during the year that hurt us.
“In a way I almost think sudden-death football has been better for the boys.
“Our mindset now is there is no tomorrow unless we win and the boys seem to be thriving under that added pressure.
“It’s exactly the same this week.”
Wilson expects Kiewa-Sandy Creek to come out hard after suffering a surprise loss to finals bolter Tallangatta last weekend.
The Hawks won three quarters but were unable to recover from a disastrous second term when the Hoppers kicked nine goals.
“They (Kiewa) are a quality side,” he said.
“They have been the best side all year and will be really disappointed with how it went last weekend.
“Kiewa will come out firing and we need to weather the storm.
“If we can limit the damage early, I think we’re a really good chance.”
Wilson, who guided Chiltern into the finals last season before handing over the top job to Doolan, has played most of the season in the ruck.
Veteran enjoys playing on the edge
Despite being better known as a defender, he has embraced the challenge in the twilight of his career.
Wilson will lock horns with Luke Norton-Smith on Saturday and faces the prospect of taking on in-form Hopper Aaron Baker the following weekend.
“At Jindera I was in the ruck every now and then, but it was probably more in my early days,” he said.
“I don’t mind it.
“You are always in the action and around the footy.
“Mark asked me to do it in the last quarter against Wahgunyah and I have been there ever since.
“I was just want the season to keep going.”
Kiewa-Sandy Creek is sweating on the fitness of veteran forward Leigh Cameron while Callum Turner and Zac Simmonds are also believed to be under injury clouds.
