Border Mail |
HALFWAY through the season the gap between the Ovens and Murray pretenders and the contenders is clear.
During the off-season there is always optimism and buzz created with player movements and new signings as clubs look to get their hands on the coveted premiership.
Nine rounds in and it’s evident some clubs can start preparing for next season as the optimism and excitement has surely been replaced with disappointment and frustration.
Saturday’s blockbuster at J.C. Lowe Oval told us one thing.
Yarrawonga’s 10-point win was a tight affair and the Pigeons deserve top billing as flag favourites but perhaps they aren’t going to have everything their own way.
Chris Hyde and Daniel Maher can take plenty of positives out of the match and, with injuries to some key personnel, maybe it’s not going to be all one-way traffic.
The Pigeons and Tigers play a tough, man-on-man, brand of football that seems to serve up cracking contest after cracking contest.
There is little doubt both sides are expected to add another chapter to their already sparkling rivalry with another grand final appearance in the last weekend of the season.
But there is some quality waiting patiently in the wings.
The Lavington Panthers play the Albury Tigers at Albury Sportsground this weekend and you get the feeling it’s a contest they have been building for.
These are the games James Saker’s men feel they are ready for and after a season and a half under Saker the Panther press looks as rock solid and steady as you could get it.
The club has a clear direction and focus and in adding a couple of quality players to last year’s playing group the depth is there to compete at a consistently high level.
Luke Brauer has returned to the club and has provided some toughness and leadership to the back six and young key position forward Adam Flagg looked impressive in the wet against North Albury the other week and he looks a real find, and just what the Panthers needed.
He seems a player that can attack the aerial contest and has the smarts to demand the ball in the right spots.
He forms a great pairing with captain Luke Garland who is nothing short of class.
With versatile Myles Aalbers floating and lurking in the forward 50, combined with speedster Jay Banks at ground level, the Panthers have enough game-breakers to give any side in the competition headaches.
They have tremendous balance goal line to goal line and still boast a first-class midfield with Kade Stevens back in form and the no nonsense Matt Pendergast leading the way.
With coach James Saker taking a key post in defence along with Brant Dickson and with runners on the wings with the pace of Alex Jones and Mitch Palmer, you can see how each player knows his role to a T and that is just the way Saker wants it.
How much can Saker get out of the group?
That is the question and this weekend footy fans will know more and he will know more.
The Panthers have come a long way and a mouthwatering mid-season match up with the Tigers will tell how far they can go.
