Adelaide Footy League Wakefield Sports Clinic Division 7 finals week two preview

MANY are predicting that this week’s second semi-final is a sign of things to come in regard to the likely combatants of the division seven grand final.

MANY are predicting that this week’s second semi-final is a sign of things to come in regard to the likely combatants of the division seven grand final.

Adelaide Lutheran and Para Hills have been the best performed outfits during the regular season and either would be a worthy premier.

The Bulldogs had the luxury of sitting back and resting over the first weekend of the finals but the Big Reds faced little trouble in their qualifying final clash against Mitchell Park, which suggests both sides will be fully capable of tackling a tough, physical contest on Saturday.

As well as holding home ground advantage, Adelaide Lutheran will go into this encounter with the knowledge that it methodically defeated their opponents by a commanding 50 points on the South Parklands back in round 12.

It is even entering the finals on a 12-game winning streak so it would not want to slip up now.

Both sides have strengths around the ground which should make this a much tighter tussle than their last meeting and when Para Hills claimed a resilient 31-point victory at home early in the season.

Close margins were expected last week but both matches to open the finals series proved to be one-way traffic.

Sean Buss, Shane Evans and Lynton Power were the main instigators in the Big Reds’ defining 91-point thrashing of Mitchell Park, highlighting their flag credentials.

However, it is the class in attack, consisting of Shane Hanson, Paul Cree, Shaun Holland, Scott Bamford and Robert Marshall that could see them realise that goal.

Their greatest threat will be the imposing line-up of Tom Kowald, Matthew Delsar, Ashley Goodall, Jacob Stollznow and Jordan Scheer who led the way in the Bulldogs’ round 18 training exercise, an invincible 80-point win over St Pauls OS.

At the same time, the likes of Chris Scolefield, Chris Koenig, Shane Hickey and Scott Babolka (just to name a few) will also be primed to have an impact on proceedings for Adelaide Lutheran this week.

Meanwhile, one cannot discount Mitchell Park or Tea Tree Gully still making their presence felt in the title race.

Although the Lions suffered a demoralising loss last week, they will surely set themselves for a strong rebound in the first semi-final at home on Saturday.

Going out in straight sets would not be in their vocabulary at this stage but Tea Tree Gully produced a potent 133-point drubbing of the Saints last week to show that it was not to be forgotten.

The Gullies’ Luke Flynn, Daniel Wicks, Jacob Nolan, Daniel Formosa and Phil Doyle, were most influencial in the elimination final, will need strict attention this week but that will be the case for Daniel Noske, Alex Watson, Scott Kroepsch and David Ford amongst others as well.

Nothing went right for Mitchell Park last week and coach Wayne Knowles will definitely call on an across-the- board improvement to continue their progress further.

While Justin Dienelt, Adam Morris, Chris Bradford, Daniel Battersby and Harley Leedham attempted to show some resistance in difficult circumstances, more will be needed from all, including Brett Parker, Cohen Somerville, Brendan and Nathan Walczak, and Adam Halime, on Saturday if they are to advance.