The opportunity to take on Panton Hill for the Division 3 premiership is up for grabs when Watsonia and Thomastown clash at Epping Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Following an epic fight for second spot that went right down to the wire, it is fitting these sides should meet for the right to take on the outright premiership favourite in next week’s Grand Final.
The Saints head into this week’s encounter on the back of a 44-point loss to the Redbacks in the second semi final.
Despite failing to kick a goal in the opening 40 minutes of last Saturday’s encounter, they were within 11 points of their more fancied rival at the main break, before failing to land a blow in the second half.
Without spectacular forward Jeremy Bennett, Watsonia was only able to register eight goals and 15 scoring shots in defeat. Andrew Kidd was the side’s leading goal scorer with three, despite booting only five majors throughout the home and away season.
A major cause for concern to arise from the game was injuries sustained to forward Brody Ricardi and defender Daley Bear. Both were hampered by leg injuries and may struggle to recover in time for this week’s clash with the Bears.
Thomastown comes into this week’s encounter with winning form after outlasting Reservoir in a 29-point result in the first semi final.
Trailing deep into the third term, red-time goals to Michael Di Battista and Michael Manley gave the Bears a 10-point lead at the last change. The game was then sealed midway through the last when they booted the opening four goals of the last quarter.
Having spent half the season in the reserves, ruckman Julian Terzioski played his best game for the year, while forwards Jacob Osei-Duro and Osama Saad looked lively all day despite Michael Khoury having a quiet afternoon.
While the Bears will no doubt be on a high after the victory, their form line against Watsonia this season has been a worry. The Saints have won all three meetings between the sides in 2013, which includes two wins on the Bears’ home paddock, Main Street Reserve.
Watsonia won the first encounter between the sides comfortably and has been victorious in the past two games away from home in much tighter circumstances.
Tom Walliss and Jeremy Bennett have both enjoyed their outings against this week’s opponent. Walliss has been named in the best in all three clashes this season, while Bennett has booted four-goal hauls in the past two outings.
Inaccuracy has plagued Thomastown in the previous two games against the Saints, booting a total of 25.35. That tally includes a woeful 4.13 in the opening quarter of their Round 17 clash, a game it would go on to lose by 12 points.
With so little separating these sides this year, Thomastown cannot afford to waste so many opportunities on Saturday.
