Qualifying final contests kick off on Saturday with a clash between Avenel and Stanhope at Rushworth, followed by Sunday’s Murchison-Toolamba and Lancaster clash.
The Hoppers and Lancaster enter the finals series in some strong form, the Wombats have won their past seven matches, and all eyes will be on that contest at Merrigum.
Before those two combatants go toe-to-toe, Stanhope will get a chance to exact some revenge on the Swans following the five-point defeat in round 13.
Stanhope co-coach Mark Patten said his charges were champing at the bit to play finals football.
“The boys are keen to get back to finals action and play in front of bigger crowds and play with the pressure on them,” Patten said.
“It should be a good contest, both teams like to play on and move the ball quick.”
Avenel counterpart Kasey Duncan said it was the same feeling in the Swans’ camp.
“Everyone is excited; it’s been a while since we’ve had finals and we’ve put a lot of hard work in to get to this moment,” Duncan said.
“We’re excited to get out there and bring our pressure, we know our style stacks up in high pressure games.”
When the Swans triumphed over the Lions earlier this season they did so without a contingent of their premier players.
Star Braydon Avola, captain Kyle Maynard, gun on-baller Jack Myers and defender Dan Clarke missed the close encounter.
The Lions were without forward Chris Gleeson, slick mover Jye Adamson and Matt Gill, but will be strengthened with the return of that trio on Saturday.
Avenel is set to welcome back tall forward Jake Sutherland from suspension for this weekend’s clash.
Sutherland was integral in the Swans’ win in July with five goals.
Joining the forward in the line-up on Saturday are talented duo Tim Karolidis and Hayden Heta.
“They’ve got a couple of dominant talls and we struggled to stop them that day (round 13),” Patten said.
“Both sides will be bolstered by the return of players. We go in with confidence, but we understand that they finished first for a reason — because they are a very good side.”
Duncan said he backed his on-ball brigade to negate the talents of Stanhope star Ryan Semmel.
“I back our mids in, but we do know it’s going to be a big battle,” Duncan said.
“Our defenders are hungry to bounce back (after the loss to Violet Town), but our midfielders need to work back defensively and help them out. The plan is to get the ball on the rebound, play on quick and get the ball in to our forwards.
“We’ll bring the heat and hopefully we can control the tempo.”
Most pundits have questions they want answered and Saturday’s encounter should serve up some answers.
Was Avenel’s late-season slip a one off or are the Swans not the force we saw from them in rounds one to 14?
And can Stanhope — a side many predicted, including this author, would lift the silverware in September — knock off the minor premier and claim premiership favouritism?
Head along to Rushworth at 2.15pm on Saturday to have those questions answered.
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