BENALLA All Blacks has its eyes on the finals and is not too concerned about a recent form slump, according to coach Ben Wapling.
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The Panthers have slipped to third behind Moyhu Hoppers and Milawa Demons with consecutive losses after winning their first 13 matches.
Wapling said his team could regain its mojo at home against King Valley on Saturday, but would have to do so without match-winner Steve Pickering, who is unavailable.
“We’ll be a bit depleted but we can still play really good football,” Wapling said yesterday.
“Last year we lost five guys before one finals.
“Injuries are hurting us, especially in our back line.
“Matthew Robinson hasn’t played for five or six weeks and Duane Haebich hasn’t played much lately.
“We’ve got real injury concerns but we’ve got to do our best with what we’ve got.”
The Panthers, missing Robinson (groin), Tony Evans (unavailable), Jarrod Roscoe (broken leg) and Joel Hearn (broken hand), fell seven points short of the Hoppers last week, a good performance considering the Demons belted them by 107 points the week before.
Not making their task any easier last week was star goalkicker Duane Haebich, who has 92 goals, being sent off in the first quarter for two incidents.
Haebich was last night suspended for one match by the O and K tribunal after being found guilty of striking Moyhu’s Cam Forrest.
Haebich, who was also cleared of attempted tripping last night, pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Wapling said it was important his team shut down supply to star Roos forward Brendan Sessions, who booted nine goals in King Valley’s 96-point home win against North Wangaratta last week.
Ben Kunkel will likely get the job on the former Wangaratta Rovers and Tarrawingee spearhead, who has 71 goals in 15 games. He played on him last time and kept him quiet.
“Ben’s in extremely good form and I’m sure he will do a good job on Sessions,” Wapling said.
“He does the big jobs really well.
“They obviously had a big win last week and he kicked nine of their goals so he’s a big focal point — they are playing some good footy.”
The votes for the WAW and Border Mail footballer of the year award will not be published again until the home and away season is completed.
