Echuca United and Moama have different reasons for wanting to win the derby match tomorrow — but both are desperate for the four points.
The teams will play for the 3Jacks trophy, in honour of Echuca South’s Jack Hay, Echuca East’s Jack O’Neill and Moama’s Jack Eddy, in a match which sees the ladder-leading Eagles take on seventh-placed Magpies.
‘‘I don’t think the build-up is anything like it used to be given our focus in turning towards finals,’’ United coach Scott Beattie said.
‘‘Forget the derby, it’s another must-win game for us.’’
It was a similar view for Moama coach Simon Maddox.
‘‘From our perspective, it’s pretty simple: we’ve just got to keep winning each week if we want to play finals,’’ he said.
‘‘There’ll be a little bit more desire there, but whether it’s United or anyone else we’ve just got to keep winning.’’
But playing for the trophy certainly added something more to what was already a key fixture on the calendar, both coaches said.
‘‘It’s a good thing for the clubs, knowing that everyone has to perform over football and netball over the whole day to win the trophy,’’ Beattie said.
‘‘Those sort of blokes (the three Jacks) are the reason you have footy clubs that are successful now and volunteers are the backbone of any footy club,’’ Maddox added.
‘‘Those guys obviously put in the time and effort over the years and they are greatly respected within their respective clubs.
‘‘These are the sort of things you play for and we’d rather have it in our trophy cabinet than at United’s.’’
The Eagles hold the trophy after their round one victory, when they defeated the Magpies by 72 points after kicking 10 goals in the final quarter.
Since then United has lost only one game to hold a four-point advantage from Mulwala and Finley on the ladder but it is vital the team maintains its momentum heading into the final stanza of the season.
‘‘We’re starting to get a little bit more settled in our side and getting some players back into more consistent footy,’’ Beattie said.
One of those players is recruit Guy Campbell, who has come back to kick 18 goals in his three matches for the Eagles and was one of five players from the club selected in the Vic Country squads.
Campbell and Beattie played for the AFL Victoria Country One team, while Rowan and Farran Priest and Ryan Prendergast (emergency) were in Vic Country Two.
‘‘It’s good that we all came back with no injuries and a little confidence,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s really good for our club to have so many involved, and from what I’ve seen (Moama’s Tyler Jones) played really well as well (for Vic Country Two),’’ Beattie said.
‘‘It’s a good thing for the Murray footy league and local footy that we do get that representation.’’
Maddox said his team would aim to play four quarters of football against United tomorrow.
‘‘We had a good chat over the bye period about not just being competitive with the top sides, but ... changing our mindsets and our attitude and taking a scalp,’’ he said.
‘‘We will have something close to our best side on the park, so hopefully it will be a good run home for us.
‘‘When we’re playing good footy, we move it as good as anyone. But we’ve got to do it all day.
‘‘After our chat during the week, there’s no better test.
‘‘If we’re going to test ourselves, let’s test ourselves against the ladder-leaders, who happen to be the arch enemy as well.’’
Maddox said Matt Grant was a good chance to return for his side, while reserves players Grady Ward and Brandt Gladman, as well as a couple of guys in the under 17s were pushing for selection.
‘‘So there’s pressure on for spots, which is what we had earlier in the year and with most blokes fully fit and raring to go,’’ he said.
Beattie said a number of players would be considered for inclusion tomorrow, including Liam Guinan, Clayton Zanella, Ash Kirchhofer, Justin Saker, Luke Sanderson, Josh Rankins, Russell Eden and James Coppock, while Brad Sanderson would make his first appearance for the year in the reserves.
