Savoys stalwart Nathan Mirt will return to the senior side for Myrtleford’s season-defining derby showdown with Wangaratta on Sunday, but co-coach Jayden Vescio remains tight-lipped on any other changes to the side.
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While Myrtleford remain in the box-seat to take home the championship, a Red Devils win would lift them into first place on the league table, two points clear of their bitter rivals.
In the Savoys favour though, is a massive advantage in goal differential – a +54 leg up to Wangaratta’s +27.
With just two games to go, and both sides to be heavy favourites in their remaining matches, it’s likely that the league champion will be decided on Sunday.
Though the stakes are as high as they’ve been this season, Vescio said there were no circumstances in which he wouldn’t back his side in.
“We can’t wait for Sunday, we earmarked this game a while back,” he said.
“It’s a concern that Wangaratta are one point behind, it’ll be a league-defining game.
“We’ve got one point and a truckload of goals going for us, but a win on Sunday would hold us in pretty good stead for the last few weeks of the season.”
Vescio will coach from the sidelines again as he continues to recover from injury.
The derby, a 2-1 Wangaratta victory, was marred by reports of a brawl between the two sides late in the game, as well as Wangaratta’s Stoycho Ivanov damaging the Myrtleford rooms after being sent from the ground.
The Savoys co-coach said he was not anticipating a repeat of the brouhaha, but did expect the match itself to live up to the hype.
“Our boys will be there to get the three points,” he said.
“We’ll worry about our balance, which is pretty good at the moment – we’re just about back to full strength.
“I’ll worry about the eleven guys they pick at three o’clock on Sunday.”
Other matches in round 19 include the Albury United v Albury City derby at Jelbart Park, Boomers taking on Twin City, Melrose facing St Pats, and Diamonds hosting Cobram.
