KADE Stevens isn’t just worried about Henty’s Big Four in Saturday’s major semi-final at Walbundrie.
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While Swampie stars Damian Cupido, Jarrah Maksymow and Daniel and Dale Cox have been stand-outs in their first season at the club, Stevens said it would be disrespectful to dismiss the remaining 17 players.
It would be by far the quickest game I’ve played in during my time in the Hume league. It was interesting that a lot of people said it was as good a game as they have seen ....
- Kade Stevens
“Their top four would certainly be as good if not better than most but they have quality depth as well,” Stevens said.
“Obviously with their top four or so it puts them in the best side in the comp.
“I think Henty has good depth and I see that as an advantage of ours as well.”
Henty beat Brock-Burrum by a point in round 10 at Brocklesby in a match that has been described as one of the best played in the league for years.
The game had everything from a Cupido masterclass with eight goals to Jared Brennan’s debut to a controversial three-match suspension to Saints’ ruckman Matt Seiter.
“It would be by far the quickest game I’ve played in during my time in the Hume league,” he said.
“It was interesting that a lot of people said it was as good a game as they have seen in the league for a while.
“A lot of people commented on how it probably deserved to be a draw.
“Saturday might be the same with the sides pretty evenly matched.”
While Henty has declared Shannon Terlich and Beau Connell certain starters, the Saints are confident of welcoming back key players Matt Seiter, Jared Koschitzke, Jeremy Luff, Kade Garland, Ron Boulton and Luke Schilg.
Luff tweaked a hamstring at training before round 15 and looks a lock to take on the toughest job in the league in holding Cupido.
Cupido kicked a combined tally of 36 goals in Henty’s final four matches and Luff will do well to keep him to five or less.
Boulton’s midfield grunt will also be vital as Brock-Burrum attempt to blunt the run and carry of Cox in the centre.
“We’re confident we will get all six back for Saturday,” Stevens said.
“We haven’t taken any risks with them particularly with the top-two finish secured a few weeks ago.”
Henty and Brock-Burrum will have plenty of added motivation after both made inglorious exits during the first week of last year’s finals series.
The Swampies lost to the Giants while the Saints were upset by Culcairn.