Wodonga star Jarrod Hodgkin has set the scene for a crackerjack clash against Wangaratta on Saturday by declaring it’s the club’s biggest game since the 2009 preliminary final.
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“Definitely, definitely, it’s one that we pretty much have to win and it makes it extremely hard to play finals, if we don’t,” he said.
Coincidentally, Hodgkin played in the club’s last preliminary final, when it was belted by Yarrawonga.
The Bulldogs made finals the following year and haven’t since.
“It’s massive, it’s a massive game, if we win it really gives us a good chance to play finals,” Hodgkin said.
Wodonga has an eight-five win-loss record to sit one win behind Lavington and Wodonga Raiders.
Yarrawonga and Wangaratta are a further win ahead.
The competition is so tight, Wodonga’s season won’t necessarily be over if it loses, but an upset win would go a long way to setting up another blockbuster away to Yarrawonga in the final round.
“We’ve got to win to hold on to that third spot, so it’s probably our most important game,” Wangaratta coach Dean Stone said.
The Pies will start favourite as the home team doesn’t have a Doug Strang Medal contender like Michael Newton or a speed machine in defence like Mat Grossman.
And that’s apart from a strong midfield, led by the powerful Matt Kelly.
“It’s well known they’ve got some pretty good forwards in Newton and the other bloke (Tom Whittlesea) who’s come across from South Australia, so if we can limit the supply and push them out wide into the 50 (metre area), that would go a long way,” Hodgkin said.
“We’ve got to get on top in the midfield as well, they’re also strong there.”
Given the importance for both teams and the fact they’ll have the week off as part of the split round, it should continue the spate of blockbusters, which kick-started the run home last week.
There’s only one other match, between North Albury and Lavington, so the prospect of fine weather should guarantee a bumper crowd.