Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WANGARATTA Rovers face a nervous wait on Daniel Archer after the Hawks’ star forward strained his quad in yesterday’s thrilling 13-point win over Corowa-Rutherglen.
The Hawks will find out in the coming days whether the former St Kilda rookie will be available for their knockout semi-final against Lavington after they stunned the Roos in the elimination final at McNamara Reserve.
Corowa-Rutherglen blew a 23-point lead, 20 minutes into the second quarter, to fall to a Rovers team that moved into September action in the final minute of the final round.
Archer, 22, spent most of second half off the ground after he over-extended during a kick forward.
Wangaratta Rovers coach Paul Maher said he was confident the athletic forward would be right to play.
“He’s pretty professional with how he deals with that sort of stuff and he’ll let us know,” Maher said last night.
“He was convinced he was right to come back on.
“We weren’t as convinced.
“At this stage, we’re very confident he’ll be right.”
James Mulligan (ill) was again a late withdrawal for the Hawks.
Alongside Cam Bishop (ankle) and Luke Peters (groin) Mulligan will come under consideration this week.
“James had stomach pains on Saturday and they put him on morphine in hospital,” Maher said.
“I haven’t got a recent update but we wish him all the best.”
Maher said the Hawks were confident of turning the tables on Lavington in Sunday’s first semi-final at John Flower Oval.
The Panthers suffered a 29-point loss to Yarrawonga in Saturday’s qualifying final.
The two sides met in the same game last season, with Lavington storming to an 85-point demolition of the Hawks’ at Corowa.
Maher said that wouldn’t happen again.
“I was helping out that day and I remember it very clearly,” Maher said of last year’s defeat.
“We won’t put in an effort like that again.
“We’ll be really working hard to make sure the way we’ve played the last two weeks is the way we play again this week.
“That’s exactly how we want to play.”