Shepp News |
Tomorrow’s Goulburn Valley Football League match on Benalla Showgrounds’ vast expanses pits two of the competition’s hardest-running and slickest sides against one another.
Luke Morgan’s Benalla is the surprise league pacesetter — although its success is no longer such — while David Williams’ Kyabram is a popular selection as the premiership darkhorse.
‘‘We see Kyabram as a very dangerous side, obviously, and I’m rating them as my grand final pick at the moment,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘They’ve got very dangerous players all over the ground and they’re up with the most talented lists.
‘‘They’ve got good bookends in (Jason) Morgan and (Paul) Newman, then they’ve got running on-ballers who are dangerous.’’
Both clubs are without their TAC Cup and VFL-listed players and injury could yet be a factor: Saints Jordan Daniel (corked hip) and Shayne McKean (hamstring) are in some doubt.
McKean provides Benalla with a three-pronged tall forward line alongside young guns Nick Warnock and Jordan Wolff.
Mooroopna’s Rob Osborne exploited the Bombers’ lack of height in defence last round, so McKean’s playing status is crucial, particularly with Rhys Clark back at Bendigo Gold.
‘‘Shayne’s been really good the last few weeks and it was no different at the weekend (against Rochester),’’ Morgan said.
‘‘He is really important, but we, obviously, need him fit.’’
Williams was equally respectful of the Saints as Morgan was for his team.
‘‘They’re very competent,’’ Williams said.
‘‘We’ve had a look at a couple of the DVDs and they move it really quickly and have some real slick players through their midfield.
‘‘(Alistair) Jacka’s in good form and was picked on a wing last week, but he goes forward, Wolff is dangerous at centre half-forward, Warnock’s a very good player and McKean’s another tall, which will stretch us.
‘‘Their backline has been pretty stable for the whole year, too. You don’t beat Tatura by 33 points and Rochester by 33 points and not be impressive.’’
Williams said Luke Morris (calf) would return to bolster Kyabram’s ruck stocks for a match-up with Benalla’s Jack Ellis.
The Saints are amid a tough block of games that started with Rochester last week, continues with the Bombers tomorrow and then includes Shepparton United and Mooroopna.
Morgan said he freshened his players on Tuesday night after an emotional lead-up to the Tigers match due to clubmate Dylan Pryor’s death.
He said it was more important mentally than physically to have a lighter session.
