QUALIFYING FINAL
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EAST POINT V NORTH BALLARAT CITY
At Eastern Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm
2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD
R8: Kangaroos 15.9 (99) d City 10.10 (70)
R12: Kangaroos 15.17 (107) d City 11.15 (81)
SEASON RECORD
EAST POINT (1st): 13 wins, 3 losses
NORTH BALLARAT CITY (2nd): 11 wins, 5 losses
East Point and North Ballarat City will have all guns blazing in the Ballarat Football League qualifying final at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.
Each has regained potential match-winners at the ideal time.
City has Ryan Luke, Will Young and Marcus Darmody all back with youngster Charlie Perks.
While North coach Shane Skontra declared Young (hamstring) and Darmody (hamstring) as definite inclusions at the start of the week, Luke had to make his case to get his name on the team list.
An influential key forward, Damody has been eased back with carefully managed match time in the reserves for his first senior appearance since pre-season surgery.
His presence alongside fellow talls in Young and Sam Dunstan will ensure East Point’s defence is stretched to the limit.
North has also been patient with Young, who has been out five rounds, while key defender Luke has been sidelined after suffering a broken jaw in round 10.
With these additions, Skontra has been forced to make some tough calls, with ruckman Nathan Dunstan among those unlucky to miss.
The top side importantly gets back Joel Ottavi and Jacob Brown from Essendon in the VFL, as well as the experienced duo of Daniel Tung and Daniel Semmens. There is also a possibility Jake McQueen might also return from the Bombers.
Tung and Semmens are two of the Kangaroos’ most valuable players, as hardened seasoned campaigners and leaders.
Mystery surrounds the naming of infuential ruckman Paul Koderenko as an emergency though, with East Point keeping its cards close to its chest on the issue. As long as he is fit, he surely plays.
East Point has had a stunning season. Now it is time to prove that it has what it takes to potentially land the combine’s first premiership.
The loss to Darley, even though it was missing key personnel, should surely act as a spur and reminder of the importance on being on their toes from the first bounce.
North Ballarat has finished the season full of running – winning its last five games – to put itself to the forefront of premiership contention.
City’s midfield led by Simon McCartin, Daniel Jones and Tim Speirs has been the catalyst and there will be a lot to like about their clash with the likes of Clay Bilney and ex-Northies Matt and Jordan Johnston.
PREDICTION: East Point
East Point
B: C. Lovig, M. Walsh, L. Dahlenburg
HB: D. Martin, J. Van Meel, D. Tung
C: B. Whittaker, C. Bilney, A. Nestor
HF: J. Johnston, J. McQueen, M. Rotumah-Onus
F: M. Johnston, B. McDougall, J. Brown
R: J. Ottavi, D. Semmens, T. Clark
Int: J. Payne, A. Maconachie, C. Carson
Emg: P. Kodorenko, C. Quinlan, L. Gunn, R. Monument, L. Thornton
In: J. Ottavi, D. Tung, J. McQueen, D. Semmens, J. Brown
Out: J. McClure P. Kodorenko, L. Gunn, R. Monument, L. Thornton
North Ballarat City
B: B. Simpson , R. Hobbs, O. Nash
HB: S. Bromley-Lynch, R. Luke, A. Turley
C: J. Bromley-Lynch, D. Jones, S. Willian
HF: M. Johns, M. Darmody, M. Gilbert
F: S. Dunstan, W. Young, K. George
R: H. Loader, T. Speirs, S. McCartin
Int: T. Bromley-Lynch, T. George, M. Giddings, C. Perks
Emg: S. Scally, N. Dunstan, B. Leonard, B. Draffin, J. Cusack
In: W. Young, M. Darmody, R. Luke, C. Perks
Out: S. Scally, N. Dunstan, J. Cusack, D. Graham