CMFL SENIOR GRAND FINAL
Saturday, September 20 2003, 2.30pm
Swan Hill Recreation Reserve

One shot at glory

MICHAEL ROGERS, Swan Hill Guardian, Friday September 19, 2003

Tomorrow’s Central Murray Grand Final has a different meaning for each of the opposing coaches.

Swan Hill’s Ash Connick will be keen to atone for last year’s narrow miss when defeated by a rampaging Woorinen outfit. Meanwhile it is third time lucky for Magpie mentor Robbie Lee.

He has guided Lake Boga to three preliminary finals in his four seasons as coach, but this is the first time his men have reached that one day in September.

“It’s a bit of a relief actually” Lee said in regard to finally making a grand final.

“It was our third prelim, so it was a good hurdle to get over.”

The burning question for the Pies is whether they can maintain the momentum that has carried them through two cut-throat finals.

While the punters may be wondering, it is not an issue that particularly bothers Lee.

“I’m pretty sure we can get ourselves up,” he said.

“We’ve been up since the Nyah game two weeks ago and we’ve managed to keep it going, so I don’t think it will be too much of a problem”

Also lingering in the Magpies’ minds will be the ten-goal thrashing handed out by Swan Hill in the qualifying final.

Lee has written it off as just one of those days and is confident of a stronger showing tomorrow.

“There were just that many players who played badly that day,” he said.

“They beat us pretty well that day but if we have a good day we should go alright.”

“We’ll just go out and have a go.”

In contrast to Lake Boga’s relative grand final inexperience, Swan Hill has maintained the core of the team that succumbed to the Was Lewis inspired Tigers last year.

The likes of Connick, Bennett, Lachy Beasy and Caldow will provide the leadership, while Wayne Landry and Bernard Rigby add freshness to the mid-field line up.

Home ground advantage favours the Swans – they have a flawless record at the show grounds this season – but that perceived edge didn’t help them last year in the game that mattered most.

Size and depth loom as the critical factors in tomorrow’s decider.

The Swans have a full list to choose from including an imposing array of key position options.

Their “bottom 10” players also seems to compare more than favourably with Lake Boga’s.

However, passion and desperation are important intangibles on the biggest day on the football calendar and the Magpies – and their supporters – certainly have both of those in abundance.

Kellie, Mena, Alison and Kate decorate Lake Boga’s CBD.

A Cracker of a Contest

MICHAEL ROGERS, Swan Hill Guardian Friday 19th September, 2003

Will last week’s rest see Ash Connick’s refreshed Swan Hill run all over Lake Boga? Or will captain courageous Robbie Lee inspire his men to one last effort to claim the flag? Either of these two scenarios is entirely plausible with Swan Hill and Lake Boga both deserving of the premiership on 2003. The only surprising aspect of tomorrow’s senior grand final is the absence of Kerang who proved themselves to be the best side over the home and away series.

Cynics will label the Blues a local version of Port Adelaide but that would be disrespectful of all Shawn Filo and his players have achieved this season.

However, Swan Hill and Lake Boga have been the two sides who have overcome all of the obstacles placed in their way and the performances of both teams certainly warrants a shot at a flag. On recent form Swan Hill appear to hold a clear edge. They disposed of the Magpies by 63 points in the qualifying final which followed a reasonably comfortable win in Round 13 at Swan Hill. Lake Boga’s win in Round Two came due to a spirited final quarter fight back after the injury-depleted Swans had led for most of the day. The qualifying final defeat must have caused some serious doubts to surface in the Magpies players’ minds – particularly after their straight sets exit from the finals last year when they were favourites for the flag. The playing group has

bounced back admirably, crushing Nyah-Nyah West United with a 9-goal opening term and gritting out a win against the favoured Blues last week. The catalyst for their form turnaround has been coach Robbie Lee. Last week’s preview suggested few players have the capacity to influence a game like the Magpie skipper and he did little to disprove that theory. His work rate was without peer and he was deservedly named best for his club. The brilliant return of Wes Pye from suspension would have gladdened Lake Boga hearts as he filled the centre half back role left vacant by the injured Luke Pumpa with aplomb. The dangerous Jason Rae was taken out of the equation, but Lee will be less likely to repeat the tactic this week. Adam Pollock’s less mobile style allowed Pye the freedom to adopt a defensive role. Ryan O’Sullivan will ensure that the Boga big man is more accountable tomorrow.

It can almost be taken for granted that the team that wins in the midfield will be considerably closer to the cup. Lee and Ben Pumpa will take to the centre square with Pye where they will face a combination comprising Wayne Landry, Lachy Beasy and Dean Bennett. Bennett is certain to drift forward at some stage – it just depends upon whether the Pies can nullify his impact. Lake Boga looks to have more dash on the wings with Scott and Glenn Smith and Brock Parsons adept at carrying the ball. For the Swans Gene Brooks has enjoyed a strong second half of the year after returning from injury, while Bernard Rigby and Shaun Lawry play different but equally effective roles on the ball.

The match-ups at the Magpies attacking end are interesting propositions Vaughan Noonan and Connick are the league’s premier defensive pairing but they face the most potent forward duo in the competition.

Look for Noonan to cover Cliff Ryan at centre half -back with Connick attempting to exploit a slight height advantage over Rikki Pumpa. Tom Chatfield and Caldow also form a dangerous double-act but their output has been slightly less than that of their Lake Boga counterparts. However add Bennett’s return of 40-odd goals for the season into the mix and the veteran’s talent shows its true worth. Rick Lynas has been assigned most of the big defensive roles in 2003 and has rarely had his colours lowered.

Pye may be needed in defence to assist Lynas and Nathan Quick but he will drag O’Sullivan – who is more than capable in front of goal – down there with him. Only a concerted team effort from the Magpies will limit the Swans scoreboard output. Both sides can score heavily but the Swans appear to be stronger in defence. However no team in the league had been able to stop Lake Boga when it gets a sniff and the Swans’ brains trust will be keen to throw them off their game early on. There is a sense of determination and commitment in the Swan Hill camp that has been present throughout the season.

Connick was so close to a premiership last year – just three points down at three-quarter time- and he will be loathe to let another opportunity slip. The Magpies will be equally desperate to end their premiership drought. Robbie Lee has moulded his side into perhaps the most attractive team to watch when they are on song but there has been a sense of fragility about the Magpies which is not evident in their rivals. Three preliminary finals appearances have only reaped one grand final appearance and the coach will be keen to cash in.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the week off will favour the Swans. Couple that with Lake Boga’s tremendous efforts over the past two weeks and the ledger looks to fall more heavily in the Swans direction.

However the Pies have succeeded on every occasion and they will hit the ground running. Expect some fireworks early in the piece before both sides settle into a free-flowing battle between two highly talented sides. Swan Hill’s experience, its hunger from the 2002 grand final defeat and Connick’s steely resolve should push the Swans over the line in a what should be a cracking spectacle.

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