Adelaide FL Wakefield Sports Clinic Division 7: Finals week one

MITCHELL Park last week showed that it would not be a spent force in the division seven finals series.

MITCHELL Park last week showed that it would not be a spent force in the division seven finals series.

There was plenty of pride on the line from the Lions as they snared the double chance following a determined last minor round 27-point triumph over fellow finals contender Tea Tree Gully.

They thus jumped the Gullies on the ladder to earn a re-match with Para Hills in Saturday’s qualifying final at The Paddocks, sending their opponents down to a home elimination final against St Pauls OS at Pertaringa Oval.

It will be a different Lions’ line-up too from the one that fell to the Big Reds just two weeks ago by 51 points.

A few handy inclusions to the side that suffered that humbling loss, like classy midfielder Shaun

Lindholm, imposing Travis Hyde who returned last week from nasty injury, creative goal-scorer Nikolas Flynn, powerful Cohen Somerville and dynamic Scott Paterson, will make this week’s clash a much closer affair.

Combining with Chris Bradford, Brandon Walczak, Kym Evan and Jordan Dienlt, they could even sway proceedings in Mitchell Park’s favour this time around.

Although, Jye Bailey, Tyson Lees, Jason Nuske, Ryan Rebbeck and Chris Ryan from Para Hills will definitely still make it tough for the visitors.

The Big Reds had a simple warm-up for the opening week of the finals with a mindboggling 322-point walk in the park to close out North Pines’ tumultuous season.

They incredibly kicked 50 goals in the process, with spearhead Shane Hanson bagging a remarkable 22 of them and fellow attacking partner Paul Cree a creditable six on the back of the efforts of Shaun Holland and Lynton Power who also impacted the scoreboard.

This will be a great clash to begin what should be a thrilling finals series at this level which will not just be a two-way street between minor premier Adelaide Lutheran and Para Hills.

Tea Tree Gully, with its balanced mix of senior and youthful experience, would be expected to fight back strongly after letting the double chance slip last week.

The Gullies’ Jedd Talbot, Dean Coats, Aaron Richter, David Ford and Luke Flynn will give Daniel Wicks, Daniel Formosa, Stephen Daniels, Grant Williams and Phil Doyle much needed assistance to boost their prospects of advancing deeper into August.

While the Bulldogs highlighted why they are flag favourites accounting for St Pauls OS by a commanding 80 points last week, the Saints will maintain belief that they can cause an upset in Saturday’s knockout contest.

David Kambach, Lucio Malatesta, Liam Davies, Sean Bockman and Matthew Rowson will though have to turn around a generous 46-point margin suffered in losing to Tea Tree Gully only two weeks ago at home with this week’s encounter away as well.

Saints coach Darren West will certainly call on the talents of Joe Adamo, Jordan Liseno, Francesco Marafioti, Wayne Nassereddine and Ryan Smiech to set the example for optimistic success.