RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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CARRYING momentum into 2015 is the focus for Narrandera captain-coach Tim Sullivan ahead of Saturday's final round clash against Wagga Tigers at Narrandera Sportsground.
Narrandera is likely to finish with the wooden spoon regardless of the result against Tigers but Sullivan wants his team to finish the year off on a positive note.
The Eagles impressed by pushing second-placed Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes last Saturday before eventually falling by 33 points.
Sullivan wants to see another big effort from Narrandera as they finish their season against another premiership contender.
"We've talked about it at training the last few weeks about how we want to finish the season on a high," Sullivan said.
"We want to carry that momentum into the 2015 season now.
"Hopefully everyone goes about things the right way, preparing properly and not thinking about the end of year celebrations.
"I want everyone focusing on doing the right things so we can take that momentum into 2015."
Narrandera almost caused one of the upsets of the season against Tigers at Robertson Oval earlier this year.
Narrandera led for large periods of the game but fell short by one goal.
Sullivan is not overly interested in that game.
"There has been a fair few weeks since that," he said.
"I would be going off last week's form against Mango rather than against them last time, it was wet and pretty ordinary conditions.
"It will be dry and on the bigger ground this time so they'll look to play on, run and carry, so we've got to be up and about and ready to go to be able to match it with them.
"We've proven over the last few weeks that we are capable of matching it with the top teams."
Narrandera will welcome back Kurt Jensen, Damon Burden, Will Hayward and possibly Ben Grant for the final round clash.
It loses key duo Steve Irons and Lachie Hutchins to unavailability.
It has been a tough first year in charge for Sullivan but he believes there have been plenty of positives.
"Halfway through the season when we'd only won the one game we decided we had to reassess what we were doing football wise at the club," he said.
"We realised it was time to start blooding some of the younger and less experienced players, get them interested and hungry to play first grade.
"There has been a few real good cases of young blokes coming up that have been doing alright.
"I think they've learnt to come in and play their role too, rather than just going out and trying to get a kick."
Logan Smith and Dylan Riddell have been just two of those to impress Sullivan.
Already 25 players of the current list have re-signed for next season and Sullivan turns his focus to next season.
"It's already underway to be honest," he said.
"After Saturday we'll get right into it.
"We've touched base with a lot of people and now we'll be trying to get them on the dotted line."