Border Mail |
BRAD Ottens is no longer a certain starter for Yarrawonga in Sunday’s grand final against Albury.
The Pigeons will find out today whether Ottens will be available for the decider after Geelong’s VFL team also booked a spot in the grand final at the weekend.
That game is also this Sunday.
Ottens is a ruck coach at Geelong and may be forced to fulfil his coaching duties by the club.
“We want to know as early as possible,” Pigeons’ co-coach Chris Kennedy said last night.
“It’s not something we want lingering about.
“Look, he’s a ruck coach and they’ve made a granny so who knows?”
The Pigeons will take on arch-rival Albury for the fifth successive year after the Tigers pinched a spot in the grand final with a heart-stopping one-point win over Lavington in yesterday’s preliminary final.
The Panthers led by 20 points, 15 minutes into the final quarter, but four goals from the Tigers in the dying minutes saw the Ovens and Murray powerhouse avoid a shock defeat.
Albury co-coach Daniel Maher said the Tigers were confident of recovering in time for the decider.
“From here on in, it’s all about recovery,” Maher said after yesterday’s win.
“It was a hard deck.”
The Tigers have their own selection woes ahead of the blockbuster clash at Lavington Oval.
Midfielder Matt Shir is confident of recovering from a quad injury he suffered in the final round of the season, while six-time premiership forward Matt Fowler is considered an outside chance of earning a call up.
“We’re going to give guys like Shirry and Fowls every opportunity during the week just to give themselves a chance,” Maher said.
“But it’s probably too early to make a call, this far out.
“Toby Blissett, Kieran Ellis are still in the mix, too.
“Whether we go big or small is still to be decided.”
