Lions reach for the stars

Leahy, who has 67 goals this season — the sixth-highest in the O and K — is a good chance to return from groin soreness for Sunday’s cut-throat clash at Moyhu.

The Lions also hope injury-plagued captain Luke Matheson, who has played just 10 games, will be fit a groin-quad injury.

Whorouly coach Scott McMasters, who will step down after the season, said his team would be confident after pushing minor premier Moyhu last week.

“We got a fair bit of self belief out of it,” he said. “We were only 13 points down with five minutes to go, but they finished off really well.

“If our forward line functions, we can score highly and quickly.

“We played some really good footy we need to do it for four quarters.”

If past results are an indication, this will be another nail-biter.

In round 15 at Tarrawingee, Whorouly almost squandered a 34-point half-time lead to win by a point. Leahy booted two and was named his side’s best.

And in round 2, the Dogs had a 16-point half-time lead but drew 14.12 (96) to 14.12 (96) at Whorouly.

McMasters said the teams matched up.

“We’ve played twice this year and we’ve had a draw and a one-point win,” he said.

“You could say we match up fairly well.

“We’ve got probably a little bit more pace than they do and the teams are pretty similar in onballers.

“We’ve both got good ruck divisions — it tends to be a dogfight in the middle of the ground.”

Importantly, Tarrawingee is in winning form after smashing North Wangaratta by 126 points in its elimination final.

In that match, Daniel Barassi, pictured right, booted 10 taking his season tally to 80.

Despite being the 2010 premier, McMasters said the Dogs were not under any added pressure.

“There’s as much pressure on us to perform and win as there is on them,” he said.

“We can go a fair way. We are more than capable of winning.”