Looking forward: Tyson Sidebottom and his Strathmerton side will do battle with Waaia this Sunday in the second qualifying final.
Photo by
Daniel Webb
Four titans of the Picola District Football League will do battle this weekend for a chance to take a step closer to premiership glory.
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Minor premier Tungamah will venture to Katamatite to take on fourth-placed Katunga on Saturday.
Then on Sunday, reigning premier Strathmerton heads to Blighty for a second-versus third-clash with Waaia.
They’re easily two of the biggest games of the season to date and fans are sure to expect some riveting football to unfold this weekend.
Kick-starting the action on Saturday is the Bears and Swans match-up.
Final-round drama a fortnight ago had Katunga slip into the top four and guarantee its double-chance ticket at the 11th hour.
Swans mentor Damian Kennedy said his side would be approaching its finals quest with a ‘‘nothing to lose attitude’’.
“We’re excited to be here,” Kennedy said.
“It’s super exciting to finish fourth, we’ll be going into the game with the attitude that we’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“We’ve got a young, exciting group, we’ve been building for this for a couple of years and the time has arrived to show what we can do when it matters.”
Having won just two games in 2019 and to now have finished fourth three years later, Kennedy said he was so proud of what his charges had accomplished while he’s been at the helm.
And he’s well aware the Bears carry the favourite tag this weekend.
“Tungamah are a very strong side,” he said.
On the march: Tungamah coach Xavier Stevenson and his side take on Katunga this Saturday.
Photo by
Daniel Webb
“We’re on the way up, there’ll be a few nerves, but we’ll try to bring our game when we get there, get our heads down and concentrate and enjoy the finals experience.
“Not many people will rate us, but it all starts again in finals. These sides (Tungamah, Strathmerton, Waaia) have been up there for a few years now, they’re mature sides ready to win one, but with the sides left in it now, the gap isn’t as great.
“To win a final or two — that’s what we’ve set out to do.”
The action on Saturday gets under way at 2.05pm at Katamatite Recreation Reserve.
Strathmerton’s title defence begins in earnest on Sunday, when the Bulldogs take on second-placed Waaia.
The Bombers dropped one game this year in a shock round 14 upset to Jerilderie.
Having done the job against the Bulldogs on both occasions this year, Mark Meyland’s men will enter this fixture full of confidence.
The Bombers rounded out their season with a mammoth win over Mathoura, in which forward weapon Charlie Burrows slotted 13 goals.
But the perennial contender that is Strathmerton is sure to bring its A game to Blighty Recreation Reserve.
Playing coach Tim Looby continued his rich vein of goal-kicking form in his side’s final round loss to Katandra with four majors, while Jake Ellery and Adrian Crestani will be ones to watch.
Sunday’s match at Blighty Recreation Reserve gets under way at 2.05pm.
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