![QUICK: Bright's Max Stevens clears the ball. The Mountain Men face Benalla All Blacks in an elimination final on Sunday. Picture: KERRI CHALWELL QUICK: Bright's Max Stevens clears the ball. The Mountain Men face Benalla All Blacks in an elimination final on Sunday. Picture: KERRI CHALWELL](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/beau.greenway/09c0a259-deab-4025-86eb-6b887afb1581.jpeg/r0_0_3648_2089_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Lining up in a final should be motivation enough.
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That's the belief of Bright coach Paul Harrison who will play a post-season match without a crowd for the first time, in a decorated career of more than 350 games against Benalla All Blacks at Milawa on Sunday.
Harrison admitted there are players who feed off a crowd for motivation, but the overarching feeling amongst his group is they're glad to be out there as neighbouring leagues are on hold due to implications from the NSW lockdown.
"It's quite interesting when you get out there and play and there's really no noise. All you're hearing are the voices on the oval. But it's just great to be able to play for a result at the end of the day," Harrison said.
"Putting the result aside, for everyone in the comp and all the players to be able to stay motivated, keep rocking up to training and pushing through what the whole competition has gone through over the last two months is a great effort.
"It shows a lot of resilience from all the players."
Bright will be undermanned for the clash as soft tissue injuries mounted late in the season due to the stop-start nature of the competition, while Sam Mather, Alexander McLaren and Luke Simpson are all ruled out by the lockdown in Melbourne.
"We've suffered a few hamstring injuries late in the year, which has hurt, but one great thing about Bright is there are so many good local kids and the next guys in line will step up and play their role," Harrison said.
"They (Benalla) are a fast, running team and they've got a good midfield, so we know we've got to be on top of our stoppage game and really defend well."
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Tarrawingee takes on Greta in the other elimination final on Saturday and have the luxury of playing on their home ground.
The Bulldogs will also be below full strength with former North Melbourne player and leading goal-kicker Lachie Hansen unavailable due to the Melbourne lockdown, as is Ben Ross.
Hansen's brother, Damon, also isn't expected to line up hurting his ankle in the final round against Whorouly.
But coach Xavier Norden remains upbeat.
"We've all got friends and family that play Ovens and Murray or are down in Melbourne, so for us to still be able to play footy, we're very lucky," he said.
"I think the only thing is we're disappointed we can't take our families to the footy or have our kids there.
"I know for most of our lads at Tarra, it takes away the fact it's a day for the family, especially at O and K level."
Greta boasts the league's top forward Daniel Cassidy, who enters the clash in season-best form with 19 goals in his last two matches.
"We've put a bit of work in to try to keep Cassidy quiet and a couple of others like (Chris) Dube," Norden said.
"We played them once earlier in the year and rolled over the line by a point, so hopefully it won't be as close this time."
Milawa and Bonnie Doon will face off in the second semi-final next weekend after finishing top two in the home and away season.
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