BFL first semi-final: Lake Wendouree v Redan preview | teams

Lions coach Brendan Peace believes sustained pressure – a trademark of the Cobras – will be the key to them getting over Lake Wendouree in the knockout encounter.

Peace said Bacchus Marsh had reaped the rewards of maintaining pressure in all facets of the game in three encounters against Lakers this year.

He said replicating this would be essential if Redan was to get the better of Lake Wendouree for the first time for the season.

Peace also pointed to being more accountable at contests, with Lakers having caught Redan off guard “out the back” in the past

Curiously, this was an area where Lake Wendouree was found wanting in its qualifying final loss to Bacchus Marsh, with a lot of its prime movers well down.

“We were killed around the football...slaughtered,” Lakers coach Tim Malone said.

Malone said as disappointing as the 42-point loss was at the hands of the Cobras, there were still plenty of positives with the Lakers not as far off the mark as the margin suggested.

Lake Wendouree only lost touch when Bacchus Marsh kicked the opening goal of the last quarter 20 minutes in.

Malone said the focus this week had been improving execution – an area which let Lakers down, particularly inside their forward 50m.

He said it had been as simple on occasions as missing targets.

Malone said with the season on the line it was imperative Lake Wendouree rediscovered everything that had made its home and away season so strong.

Peace said he had been encouraged by signs that the old Redan resilience, something which perhaps had been missing for several years, was returning and there was an ability to do it tough when required.

Lake Wendouree and Redan are not unalike in their make-up, with game-breaking midfields and match-winning of forwards in Lucas Anderson and Nathan Pring (Lakers), and Mitch Phelps and Orren Stephenson (Lions) 

AT THE SELECTION TABLE

Lake Wendouree and Redan have called up teenagers for the BFL first semi-final at the Eastern Oval on Sunday.

Lakers have selected Joel O’Connell, while Tom Morrish is one inclusion as Redan loses coach Brendan Peace (broken leg) and the suspended Dean Chester.

Experienced midfielder Dean Mathews is another Lions addition, returning after missing a few weeks with calf issues. Jordan Baker has also been recalled, with Zac Jenkins returning to the under-18.5s.

As well as O’Connell, Lakers have named Sam Clifton to replace Angus Kirby (hamstring) and Isaac Kirby (knee), who are significant losses. 

Angus Kirby strained a hamstring in the first quarter of the qualifying final.

O’Connell and Morrish have been playing with Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the TAC Cup.

O’Connell has played just the one senior game with Lakers, while Morrish has made six senior appearances with the Lions. 

LINE-UPS

Lake Wendouree

B: J. O'Connell, L. O'Connell, S. Carey

HB: T. Malone, H. Herben, Sa. Clifton

C: N.  Monk, N.  Peters, N.  Pring

HF: L. Bucknall, J. Hooper, S. Willmott

F: T. Nijam, L. Anderson, B. Taylor

R: A. Armstrong, St. Clifton, J. Alexander

Int: A. Simpson, E. McCuskey, L. Findlay, B. Hayes

Emg: T. Littore, N. Fraser, D. Sliwa

In: J. O'Connell, Sa. Clifton

Out: I. Kirby,  A. Kirby

Redan

B: J. Short, P. Britt, J. Giampaolo

HB: J. Jess, A. Cleary, K. Waterbury

C: N.  Willox, L.  Hoy, T.  Morrish

HF: T. Lamb, B. Smyth, G. Bell

F: M. Phelps, D. Horbury, C. Giampaolo

R: O. Stephenson, N. Horbury, D. Mathews

Int: J. Baker, H. Edwards, K. Hayes, N. Hausler

Emg: L. McLean, P. Fitzgibbon, C. Currie, L. Hunter

In: D. Mathews, T. Morrish, J. Baker

Out: B. Peace, Z. Jenkins, D. Chester