WODONGA’S depth and experience will get them to the grand final of Provincial cricket, says Albury coach Jerim Hayes.
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It’s a view shared by the leaders of other clubs who will be watching from outside the ropes as the finals start this week.
Hayes believes homeground advantage will get the Bulldogs and East Albury through the preliminaries.
“On ability and line-ups I can’t split the top four but playing at home should get the top through to the decider,” he said.
“Then it comes down to finals’ experience and its hard to go past Wodonga — with the bat they have answers everywhere.
“East Albury rely on James McNeil, and Alex Popko potentially being out could hurt as well.”
Outgoing Belvoir captain Ryan McNeil is another expecting Wodonga to go back to back.
“I’ve pulled the pin on the cricket captaincy — with a second child on the way family comes first and while I love the club and the people around it I just can’t devote the time,” he said.
“I think any of the teams in the top six could win it and if Wodonga can get past Tallangatta this weekend I think they will get up and win it.”
Wodonga Raiders Kori Stevenson believes it will be a flip of the coin between the Crows and Wodonga.
“They are tow very different sides — Wodonga have a lot of cool heads and plenty of finals experience, whereas James McNeil has a young team on the way up,” he said.
“Both are capable of making 350 or 400 and defending them.”
New City’s Mitch O’Brien believes St Pat’s are the dark horse.
“They are a proven finals performer and while we didn’t get to bat against East Albury I’d rate St Pat’s as the best all-round bowling attack in the competition,” he said.
“They have three genuine pace bowlers in Hatton, Butters and Hawking and can then throw the ball to some handy spinners in Lade and Arendarcikas.”