AFL HCC HAVAL Week 1 Elimination Finals Preview

Wrtitten By David Redden

 

Semi-Final weekend in the AFLHCC sees the Maitland & Muswellbrook footy clubs hosting games in a big weekend for two of our Hunter Valley Clubs.

 

AFL HCC HAVAL BLACK DIAMOND CUP PREVIEWS:

Killarney Vale versus Singleton, 2.15pm, Weeraman Field, Muswellbrook;

Singleton are one of the form teams in the League over the last eight weeks, and head into this 4 v 5 Semi-Final against the Bombers on the back of a thorough dismantling of a shell-shocked Newcastle City outfit last week.?

Killarney Vale were solid in going down to Minor Premiers Terrigal Avoca last week without key forward Scott Reed.

This game will be an absolute cracker. This is clearly the best Singleton team in a generation, playing committed, passionate, hard and skillful football under coach Andrew Scott.

Killarney Vale’s choice of match-up on gun Rooster forward Sam Brasington will be pivotal, and do Corey Shackleton and Brendan Lewis follow the path of other clubs in tagging the  Superb and influential Scott. Alex Mitchell and Daine Cowburn are dangerous up front for Singleton and Will Bradshaw is one of the form backmen in the competition.

Singleton have their own massive challenges with several key Bombers stars. 2018 Elliott Davey Medallist Tim Oosterhoff presents huge match-up issues for Scott, as he will swing forward throughout the game in rotation with Jayden Banfield.

Singleton don’t have anyone tall enough to cover Oosterhoff one on one inside the 50m arc, so a combination of players including ruckman Zachery Thompson dropping into the hole in front of full-forward may be used to thwart the man affectionately known as “Rooster”. Oosterhoff and Reed playing out of the square together would be a complete handful for Singleton.

This game will be won and lost in the Centre, with Killarney Vale’s Josh Mifsud and Scott absolutely pivotal to the result. This honestly has the potential to be a one kick result, so closely matched are the two teams.

 

Cardiff versus Warners Bay, 2.15pm, Max McMahon Oval (BARTV game)

The first year of the AFLHCC has brought up some great Finals match-ups in Week 1, but make no mistake, these two sides playing each other in the Finals just has “epic” written all over it.

The fierce local rivals and near-neighbors going at it, on neutral ground, with a great history added to in recent weeks seasons with their Annual Anzac Day clash, and with a potentially huge crowd at the Max McMahon Amphitheatre, in a sudden-death, no holds barred semi-final? You couldn’t ask for more.

Cardiff has quietly gone about its business since being defeated at Rose Point Park a few weeks ago. Coach Nick Tomlinson has two of the League’s best forwards in Izaak Hughes and Jack Lennon at his disposal and whom Marty Reiman elects to play on these two pacey, medium-sized forwards will be crucial to the result of this match.

Quality on-ballers Simon O’Brien and Marcus DeLeur will will be very influential at the clearances, especially linking with the brilliant Tomlinson running off half-back. O’Brien may have some company during the match, in a bid to curb his speed and quickness around the the spacious confines at Rutherford.

Warners Bay have had a satisfactory home and away season, and defeated Singleton recently in their most important game of the season.

Corey Deverell has made the huge step up to becoming an elite midfielder this season and his battle with O’Brien, alongside returning rover Matt Spinks, will be a beauty.

Deverell’s older brother Lachlan may end up on either Lennon or Hughes during the game, a huge role for one of the Bulldogs great leaders. Jake Roach will rotate through the middle and at full-forward, his expected physical battle with DeLeur being a potential match highlight.

One area that was surely addressed during the week at Feighan Oval is the Bulldogs goalkicking, which has been just short of diabolical in recent weeks. Kayne Gibbs and the Roach brothers, along with Spinks when he jets forward, simply must kick accurately if the Bulldogs are to be a chance.

This game, between these two long-term and genuine rivals, could seriously have ANYTHING in it, from a bruising first quarter to rugged personal battles and electrifying football as well.

 

AFLHCC HUNTER HAVAL WOMENS:

Wyong Lakes versus Cardiff, 12 noon, Max McMahon Oval, Rutherford (BARTV game)

2018 Grand Finallists Wyong Lakes will enter this game as firm favourites against Cardiff, who have improved out of sight this year to be deserving of a Top 6 berth.

The expected return of dynamic ruck Kanesha Murray, alongside regular stars Emily Bohan, Sarah Ball, Rachael Potts and Rebecca Ives, will be massive challenge for Cardiff leaders Sheree Vukovich, League representative star Taylor Wilks, Claudia Russell and Tayla Grazules.

This game could be a bruising and low-scoring battle, with the Magpies capable of stifling defence led by Bohan and Ball, and Cardiff having the leadership of the supremely fit Vukovich and the long kicking of the talismanic Wilks to fall back on under pressure.

 

Newcastle City versus Terrigal Avoca, 12 noon, Weeraman Field, Muswellbrook

A classic match up between perennial Grand Finallists (City) and the rapidly up and coming (Terrigal Avoca), this is perhaps the closest game of the weekend.

City rested Molly Simpson and Meaghan MacDonald last week, giving star Sarah Halvorsen some time on the ball, a frightening prospect for the Panthers on-ballers if Halvorsen receives clearances from veteran ruck Kirsty Ferguson, MacDonald and Simpson.

The Panthers have created a very consistent outfit from 1-22, with backline leader Lillias Gardner, rover Cathrine Grimmond-Lee, ruck Kirstie Hutton, Emily Bryant and gun forward Morgan Ross all needing big games in a bid to upset the reigning premiers.

 

AFL HCC HAVAL BLACK DIAMOND PLATE:

Killarney Vale versus Warners Bay, 9.45am, Max McMahon Oval, Rutherford (BARTV game)

This fixture sees Killarney Vale coach and long-time Warners Bay stalwart James Newburn “reach the promised land” in playing his 300th game of football in our region.

These two sides are so evenly matched with experienced talent that the result could go down to the last kick off the game, as it did a few weeks ago when Killarney Vale won the game with the last kick of the match.

 

The Entrance Bateau Bay versus Muswellbrook, 9.45am, Weeraman Field, Muswellbrook

Muswellbrook, who have had a disjointed year, finished their game last week like a loaded freight train, losing by a solitary point to fellow Finallists Warners Bay.

These two clubs, at exact opposite geographical ends of the League, have a great recent rivalry including a Grand Final and breathtaking semi-finalin 2016. TEBB will have no fears travelling to the Upper Hunter but the Cats just love playing at Weeraman Field, with a healthy local crowd cheering them on in what is yet another superb match-up in Week 1 of the AFLHCC Finals Series.