WANGARATTA coach Dean Stone is expecting his good mate Dean Harding’s fierce competitiveness to show through in Wodonga’s approach during Saturday’s cut-throat clash at John Flower Oval.
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With the Bulldogs’ season teetering on the edge, Stone has known Harding for too long to under-estimate the response in the round 15 clash.
“You wouldn’t find too many blokes who would do as much research as he does,” Stone said.
“I don’t expect that will change.
“There is a fair bit on the line for that footy club, it’s ‘Hards’ last year and like every coach he wants to participate in the finals series.
“They need to keep winning just like us.
“He’s very passionate, wears his heart on his sleeve, loves the Wodonga footy club and wants to give them the best result.
”We are all striving for the same result.”
Stone and Harding, who first came across each other playing for Tigers and Magpies in the Wangaratta Junior Football League, have been mates for more than 30 years.
During that time they were rivals at Wangaratta and Wangaratta Rovers and teammates at Wodonga after Harding was delisted by Fitzroy.
But at the moment, both are only concerned about safely negating their way through the final four home and away rounds.
While Saturday’s clash is virtually do-or-die for Wodonga, the Magpies are third and desperately want to stay there.
“We are 10 and four and have some good, solid momentum,” Stone said.
“At the moment we don’t have many injures and are playing decent footy.
“We just want to continue to play the way we know that works.”
Dylan Van Berlo (hamstring) and Jesse Smith (thigh) missed last weekend and will come under consideration with Nick and Joe Richards in line to be called up by the Bushrangers.