PRELIMINARY FINAL - TULLAMARINE v CRAIGIEBURN
Sunday 2:15pm @ Coburg City Oval
WE’RE down to the final three teams.
It seems somewhat fitting that Airport West, Tullamarine and Craigieburn are the last three teams, having been the best three teams for most of the season.
Airport West sealed its grand final spot with a comprehensive win against the Demons on Saturday afternoon.
After beating the Demons in the final round of the season, the Eagles did it again a week later, this time by 56 points.
For the Demons this was a woeful performance and one coach Dave Connell has said was their worst for the year.
He said maybe they had gotten ahead of themselves, knowing they had a double chance.
It was all single goalkickers for the Demons, with Connell saying they had not one winner.
Jack Kennedy and Adam Scott were named the best on SportsTG.
Craigieburn looked winners against Hillside at three-quarter time, before the Sharks came storming home.
The Eagles managed to hold on, winning by two points.
Eagles coach Peter Bugden said his side got lazy in the last quarter and it nearly cost them the game.
He said Ben Fynch was their best player at half-back and he was well supported by the young brigade of Liam Middleton, Brock Chircop and Sammy Laffan.
Dean Limbach kicked four goals.
Both the Demons and Eagles will be sweating on some fitness tests here.
Both teams look set to lose players with knee injuries, while some handy players are in the mix to return.
Adam Bartrop injured his other knee on the return from a knee injury, while Damien Bugeja appears to have done his ACL.
The Demons’ Anthony Prestia and Timothy Barresi and the Eagles' Christian McErlain, Ryan Bongetti and Stefan Terzievski, are all chances to return according to their respective coaches.
As for form, both sides enter the game with up and down form having lost their final round games.
Both had little to play for, though.
The Demons won both games between the sides during the season, but weren’t able to blow the Eagles away.
For the Demons, they can’t put in another performance like they did against Airport West, otherwise their season is over.
For the Eagles, they need to play consistent football for four quarters.
They’ve shown they can match it with the top two sides for periods, but haven’t been able to put it together for the full four quarters.
ENTRY PRICES
Adults: $15.00
Valid Aged Pension Card Holders (must produce aged pension card): $8.00
Valid Secondary Student Concession (must produce photo ID card): $8.00
Children under 14: FREE
Your copy of The Footballer comes free with entry into the venue.
ANIMAL ACCESS RESTRICTIONS
Please note that due to recent incidents, the EDFL has decided that no animals will be permitted into any finals venues, except for dogs to assist people whose vision is impaired.
