IT IS a replay of last year’s grand final but Nigel Robinson is hoping it’s a different result for Glenrowan against Milawa at W.J. Findlay Oval tomorrow.
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The Kelly Tigers’ coach is expecting a tight contest between the two teams, both of which remain unbeaten so far this season.
And with a raft of new recruits arriving during the pre-season, there must be hopes Glenrowan’s resurgence could push it closer to an elusive Ovens and King league premiership.
“We were winning at half-time in the grand final last year and ended up getting belted by them,” Robinson said.
“They rotated heavily and we didn’t have the rotations.
“But we’ve got the personnel this year where we can rotate and match it with them and can run out four quarters.”
The Kelly Tigers mounted a determined recruiting drive, which included bagging Wangaratta Rovers’ Karl Norman, who has also taken up an assistant coach’s role.
“He’s been massive for us,” Robinson said.
“Not just for his on-field presence, but he’s brought styles and set ups and defensive structures to the club which have worked really well for us.”
Robinson said both teams played a similar game that relied on plenty of run.
“I reckon you’ll see a lot of attacking footy on Friday from both sides,” he said.
“That clash is one thing that’s going to be exciting.”
With a small forward line the Kelly Tigers have been able to rely on several goalkickers.
But this week Robinson said they were hopeful some bigger targets might return, including Robinson himself — depending on a fitness test.
Glenrowan has worked hard on seeing midfielders kick goals, and sharpshooters like Matt Robinson have been on target with 10 against Moyhu.
“When the midfielders have a rest they can become dangerous up forward,” Nigel Robinson said.
“Norman has been playing in the middle but we can swing him down forward as well.”
But while the signs were good, Robinson said the club wasn’t getting ahead of itself.
“We’re not looking at flags at this stage, we just want to play the best footy we can,” he said.
“And it’s not all about just the footy — the netball’s going better and we’re getting bigger crowds so hopefully the success will come.
“It’s been good for the town the way the club has turned things around on and off the field.”