With two matches remaining and Sebastopol Vikings one point off the ladder leader, this week’s Football Federation Victoria state league four west clash with Surf Coast is crucial.
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Vikings trail Point Cook by one point, Surf Coast has also been a quality team this season, sitting five points off top spot in fifth position.
Sebastopol held the top mantle for much of the season and will be eager to get it back. The importance of these final two weeks is not lost on coach Corey Smith and his team, but for them the focus is simple – execute its game plan and the result will follow.
“Every game’s big at the moment, so I don’t think anything really changes,” Smith said.
“If our performance is good, the results tend to take care of themselves. The biggest thing for us is working on our performance and raising it to another level.
“We’ve said all year, we want to stay in the race and have an opportunity at the end of the season and we’re in that situation now.”
If Sebastopol is to return to the top of the table and earn automatic promotion, this week looks to be the week. Point Cook face a tough challenge against fourth-placed North Melbourne Athletic, before both top teams face sides outside the top five in the final round.
While this season has proven there are no easy matches in the competition, this weekend certainly bodes as the opportunity to reclaim top spot.
“We’re in a position where it’s an opportunity.
“We have an opportunity to go out and stake a claim.
“I’ve always thought from day one that we were going to give ourselves an opportunity to have a run at the end of the season.”
Ibrahim Ghulami will miss the match due to suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card for the season, otherwise Vikings will make no changes.
Smith expected a spirited display from his charges.
“Being from a regional town, our group’s very close, we do have a togetherness in the dressing room...it doesn’t matter what the situation, our players are going to give 100%.
“Now that the stakes are higher, that won’t change, if anything it gives them more reason to fight.
“They’ve got some strong individual players and they play to their strengths. But I’ve said all year, I’m not too concerned about the opposition, the focus has to be on us and our performance.”
Kick-off is at 3.00pm on Saturday at St Georges Reserve.
LADDER
Point Cook 41 points, +26 goal differential; Sebastopol Vikings 40, +30; Bell Park 37, +17; North Melbourne Athletic 37, +5; Surf Coast 36, +15; Altona North 31, -7; Golden Plains 25, +3; Western Eagles 25, -12; Balmoral 22, -14; Truganina Hornets 19, -5; Newmarket Phoenix 14, -29; Melton Phoenix 9, -29
