Lake Wendouree expects to get back five of its most experienced players for Saturday’s Ballarat Football League elimination final against Melton at Darley Park.
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Lakers are set to regain Tim Malone, Tom Littore, Nathan Pring, Jack Elkington and Sean Wilmott.
Malone, Littore, Pring and Elkington were all rested for Lake Wendouree’s last round loss to Sunbury.
Coach Dale Power told a BFL media conference on Wednesday that it had been a precautionary measure to rest each, knowing a finals berth was locked in. He said he expected “most” to be right to play.
Wilmott has completed a two-match suspension.
Power said resting the quartet had been no excuse for the defeat at Clarke Oval.
He said it was not the outcome Lakers had been looking for.
“Any loss matters. We didn’t go down there with the intent to lose. It was disappointing to get that result.
“We were fairly aware of where we were at for the weekend. We took a young list down. We took an opportunity to get some games into some other blokes and on the big ground I think they got found out a little bit.”
Melton assistant coach Leigh Wilson said the Bloods continued to embrace making finals after the club had been on the outer for so long. They last played finals in 2007.
“We don’t fear anyone. We have a really good side which has competed well against all the other top six sides. We repect everyone, but don’t fear anyone either.
Wilson said a focus this year had been improving the bond among the players. “There’s a really good vibe around the club.
He said while there was not a lot of finals experience in the side, there were a number of players with TAC Cup and VFL experience which would put the Bloods in good stead to deal with the pressure of a final.
DARLEY is positive about the chances of coach Heath Scotland and Jake Edwards playing against Bacchus Marsh in an elimination final at Darley on Sunday despite pulling up with tight hamstrings against East Point.
Assistant coach Shane Davies said each was better than first feared. Ruckman Dyan Reid, back from overseas, looks set to return after a game in the reserves.
Davies said the way the finals had fallen could not have worked out better for Darley – playing at home against its arch-rival. “Exactly what we wanted really. If they guys cannot get up for that, they can’t get up for anything.”
Bacchus Marsh has onballer Jacob Chisari in line for a return, with Dylan Bishop and Alec Del Papa also in the mix.
