Farrer League
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
EAST Wagga-Kooringal is confident, but not cocky, ahead of tomorrow's blockbuster Farrer League semi final clash with Temora.
The Hawks are the only club the Kangaroos haven't beaten this season.
They snuck over the line to win by four points at Gumly Oval in round six, and rolled the Roos by 10 goals at Nixon Park in round 13.
But Hawks coach Gavin McMahon is aware finals can be a different ball game.
He says EWK will trust its own game and hope it gets the job done a third time.
"If we put into place all the things we've worked on, we are confident our game is good enough to beat anyone," McMahon said.
"We take confidence out of the fact we've beaten all top five clubs.
"But from my point of view Temora is the best team in the competition.
"You finish on top because you deserve it, not because you just floated in there.
"We will go in with plenty of confidence but we know we need to be careful of them (Temora)."
"You finish on top because you deserve it, not because you just floated in there."
- Gavin McMahon
EWK will need to find a replacement for tough utility Michael O'Dea.
O'Dea sustained a bad knee injury during Saturday's qualifying final and isn't expected to return this season.
McMahon is confident he will be able to find a capable replacement.
"Our reserves have won 16 in a row and there's at least two or three boys in that team who are banging down the door," he said.
"We're confident we'll have a strong side whoever we bring in.
"We've been playing with a finals intensity for a few weeks now and our guys are pretty battle-hardened."
The Hawks appear to be the form team of the competition and haven't dropped a game since the road trip to Coleambally two months ago.
Temora is fresh from a week off after earning the minor premiership and will be keen to win straight through to a third consecutive grand final.
The loser of tomorrow's game will go up against either Coleambally or Marrar in next week's preliminary final.