Fans the winners in top clash

By Ken Moore
MAFFRA meets minor premiers Sale in this week’s second semifinal on Saturday at Maffra and the fans have been salivating over this clash since the teams last met in round 10.
On that occasion, Maffra prevailed by three points, but a more enthralling finish could not have been scripted. The teams swapped the lead seven times in the last quarter and the Eagles got up with the last kick in a game that will live long in supporters’ memories.
Both teams have been head and shoulders above the rest for the whole season. Some wondered if Maffra’s glory days were over after its grand final loss to Traralgon last season but senior players captaincoach Hayden Burgiel, his brother Adrian (who will miss this week through suspension), running back pocket Nigel Sellings and midfielders Ben Coleman and Craig Robbins continue to be an integral part of the Eagles’ success.
Add the improvement of youngsters Winston Gieschen, Jesse Oldham and Sam Walker, the arrival of utility Daniel Stubbe and return of powerhouse ruckmanforward pocket Justin Bramich, who missed last week, and Maffra is arguably stronger than last season.
Sale strength lies in its balance across all lines.
Sale’s midfield, comprising Shane Fyfe, Tim Bristow, the emerging James Hamill and SANFL recruit Chris Laverty is solid but its trump card is its dangerous forward line of Nick Fowler, Brenton Martin, Chris Aurisch and exAdelaide Crow Jacob Schuback.
If Maffra does have a weakness, it is probably its defence and Sale’s major strength lies with its dangerous forward line, so the key to the match will be the centre duels, which are likely to be split evenly.
The Eagles appear to have a decisive advantage at ground level in and around the middle.
Maffra is showing no signs of slowing and should extend its winning streak to 14 in a row to advance directly to the grand final.
Warragul will enter its first semifinal clash against Traralgon on Sunday at Warragul largely unfancied.
The Guls, last season’s cellar dwellers, have outstripped everyone’s expectations but after last week’s 130point loss to Maffra its fans have little to cheer about.
Their strength lies in its feted midfield of ruckman Matt Gray, Des Barr, Rob Murphy, Nick Edney, Ryan Davey and Leigh Sheehan. But a spate of injuries last week means Barr (calf), Edney (knee) and Murphy (ankle) are all doubtful.
Fellow midfielder John Reid is already out with a collarbone broken on the eve of the finals and key defender Brendan Sheehan (infected leg) is also unlikely, so chances of victory look grim.
Without captaincoach Ash Green, Warragul relies heavily on DavidScott Smith and Brad Nott to prop up the defence and it appears to lack the manpower, or class, to blunt the Traralgon forwards.
The Guls also don’t have the forward strike power to trouble the hardasnails Maroon defence led by Sam McCulloch, Leigh Cummins and Jamie Aitken, who refuse to concede any easy kicks.
Talented tall Xavier Gargan and flamboyant forward Kael Bergles will need to kick a bag of goals for Warragul to get through to the preliminary final.
Against Warragul’s depleted midfield, Traralgon’s youngsters Jarrod Zuehlke, Daniel Pahl, Lee Stockdale and Jesse Bird and Kim Harrold are likely to thrive in what should be a comfortable victory.