HE'S locked in a two horse race for the season's leading goalkicker, but Kiewa spearhead Guy Telford doesn't want this weekend to be all about him.
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Despite being an odds-on favourite to kick a swag of majors against the Wodonga Saints in the last round before finals, Telford insists the focus will be on the team as a whole.
“We’re in a good position at the moment, but the real stuff will start in a fortnight,” Telford said of Kiewa’s undefeated season.
Thurgoona came closest to knocking the Hawks off their perch than any other team thus far in 2015, playing out a draw in round two.
Since then it’s been all one way traffic, although both Chiltern and Barnawartha have come close, falling short by just one and two points respectively.
While the goalkicking gong would be a good way to cap off a dominant season, Telford said he had his eyes on a bigger prize.
“I’d give every goal back for a premiership,” he said.
“We’ve got a good spread of talent around the ground, and the coaches in the last few years have done a great job to get us into this position in terms of the amount of local talent there is within the team.”
While Telford was modest about his achievements this year, Kiewa co-coach Callum Turner heaped praise on his key forward.
“He brings a lot to our club,” Turner said.
“He really anchors our forward line, but he certainly brings an element of leadership off the field as well.
“There’s a lot that he’s added to his game this year as well, notably some really impressive forward pressure.
“He always fronts up to training, never complains, and doesn’t get injured.
“You can’t ask for too much more.”
Turner is showing no mercy for the lowly Wodonga Saints, expected to rest only one player.
“Tory Ziems had an issue with the same foot he broke last year, he hasn’t re-injured it but he won’t play as a precaution,” he said.
“Otherwise it’ll be a full dress rehearsal.”
In other matches to come this weekend, Rutherglen face Beechworth for a chance to sneak into the top five.
The match will be broadcast live on OakFM.
The injury-hit Bushrangers will regain a couple of absentees from the last fortnight, although Dylan Pritchard is an uncertain prospect after straining his medial ligament two weeks ago.
Elsewhere, Wahgunyah face Dederang, Chiltern tackle Mitta United, and Barnawartha host Tallangatta.
