RUTHERGLEN coach Karl Jacka is confident the Cats can turn around their poor recent record at Sandy Creek in Sunday’s first semi-final against Barnawartha.
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The Cats have lost their past two finals by more than 10 goals – including last weekend’s 61-point hiding at the hands of Thurgoona – but Jacka is optimistic his troops can make the most of their second chance.
Standing in their way is a rampant Barnawartha.
The Tigers dismantled perennial power Kiewa-Sandy Creek by 89 points in the elimination final on the back of a hair-raising 12-goal performance from Peter Cook.
Jacka said restricting the Tigers, who boast one of the most potent forward lines in the competition in Cook, Josh Spence and Jordan Wolff, to “80 or 90 points” would go a long way to winning the game.
The Cats will be without Bobby Griffiths, whose season is over with a broken finger, and Dylon Simpson is unlikely to play due to a hamstring complaint but they should regain Michael Jubb and Sam Scott to take on the Tigers.
“That double chance is important for exactly what happened on the weekend,” Jacka said.
“I think we will be better for it … we’ve got to back ourselves.
“We’ve beaten ‘Barny’ both times this year and match up OK with them but we know we have our work cut out this weekend.
“They are probably the form team of the competition at the moment – their top end is as good as anyone’s and their kids have really come on.
“They went 13-5, which any other year they’d be top-three.
“Someone is going to be unlucky on Sunday and their season will be over.
“We’re hoping we’ll get a better output from a lot of guys this Sunday and hopefully be there the following week in a prelim.”
The winner of Sunday’s clash will meet the loser of Saturday’s second semi-final between fierce rivals Mitta United and Thurgoona in the preliminary final.
The Blues are the only team to have beaten the Bulldogs since April but coach Simon Hillier said that would mean nothing when the ball was bounced on Saturday.
Hillier said Darcy Eaton and Joel Wilson were chances to return from injury after the minor premiers enjoyed the week off.
He backed the Blues’ midfield to go head-to-head with the Bulldogs and said they wouldn’t tag Barton medallist Jayden Kotzur.
“They’re moving pretty well at the moment, Thurgoona, so it’s going to be an interesting game,” he said.
“It’s definitely going to be a tight game.
“We’ve played them a couple of times already and we know they’re a quality outfit.
“They’ve got a pretty strong midfield and forward line.
“Stopping them getting the ball down to their forwards is going to be the best way of going about it for our guys in the midfield.
“We’re looking forward to it.”