Diamond Creek coach Craig Hayes insists it will be “business as usual” for his side this week, despite a finals place being at stake in its Round 18 clash with Thomastown.
The fifth-placed Creekers enter the match at Main Street Reserve a win and 1.71 percent behind the Bears on the ladder.
A Thomastown win will secure the club its first finals appearance since winning the Division 3 premiership in 2013, while the Creekers will need to win by two goals or more to leapfrog the Bears into fourth spot.
Hayes said his club was treating this week like any other, despite the heightened importance for both clubs in their fight for the last remaining finals place.
“It’s the same as any other week. We will go through the same processes and make sure that any players with niggles will be right to go come Saturday,” Hayes told NFNL.org.au.
“We will obviously also talk about some strategies with how we will get the job done on the weekend.
“It’s pretty much business as usual for us.”
Diamond Creek kept its finals hopes alive with an upset 23-point win over ladder-leader Eltham at Coventry Oval.
The Creekers produced their best four-quarter performance of the season to lead from start to finish against the Panthers – continuing a late-season purple patch, which has seen the side win three of its past four matches.
Hayes believes his side’s improved consistency and ability to run out games has been a contributing factor to its improved form over the past month.
“It’s been being able to play four quarters and putting in a consistent effort which has been the main thing,” he said.
“Combining that with some good ball usage in the forward half, which has helped put some scoreboard pressure on as we did against Eltham and that’s probably it in a nutshell.
“I think our defensive pressure has been pretty good also which certainly helped us on the weekend against a very formidable opponent.”
Thomastown brings better of the head-to-head form into the Round 18 clash, having beating Diamond Creek on both occasions this year.
However, Hayes believes his side should take confidence into the game as it looks to secure its third-successive finals appearance.
“We may have extra belief because of the win on the weekend but it’s just more about how we play our footy and that’s the main focus at this point in time,” he said.
“We think the way we are playing at the moment is conducive to kicking winning scores and restricting the opposition and our last month has probably indicated that.
“We are going to have to be strong at the contest because Thomo are really good in that area and they have some dangerous forwards, so we have got to make sure we set up well defensively.
“It’s also about making our opportunities when we get them.
Hayes wouldn’t be pressed about his side’s finals chances should it finish in the top-four, insisting the club hadn’t looked any further than this weekend’s game.
“There are no finals unless we win this week, so we won’t be looking beyond because this week is an elimination final for us,” he said.
“We are just looking at strategies that will work against Thomastown and trying to keep it simple and not over complicate things.”
