Farrer League
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TEMORA coach Mark Kruger is resigned to the fact he's pulled on a Kangaroos jumper for the last time.
Kruger came off in the opening quarter of the second semi-final on Saturday, after an attempted spoil went horribly wrong.
He will get scans on his injured knee today, but after consulting with a doctor and others after the game, he holds very little hope.
The 30-year-old was on crutches after the game, is still unable to walk without assistance and his knee continues to swell.
"At this stage it doesn't look good, it looks like there is a fair amount of damage done," Kruger said.
"When I did it I heard a very, very loud crack and there were a couple of little noises at the same time.
"If you are going to do it, do it properly, and I think that might have been the case."
Kruger went up to spoil a Marc Geppert mark, but landed behind the big Hawks full-forward, who fell back onto his knee, causing the damage.
Describing the incident as "a pure accident", Kruger said Geppert text him on Sunday night to wish him all the best.
With the damage on the outside of his knee, he is hoping only to have damaged the lateral collateral ligament, rather than his anterior cruciate ligament.
Either way, the serious knee injury comes at the worst time for the coach aiming to leave Temora with a third-straight premiership.
After being told his his coaching services wouldn't be required for next season, the 30-year-old is searching for a new home.
The possibility of being a non-playing coach could limit his options, but Kruger believes his coaching record still gives him a strong foothold.
"I think I've put myself in a pretty good position - that my coaching is at the forefront ahead of playing," he said.
"We will make a decision in the next week or two as to what I'm doing and I've got some very good offers as a non-playing coach in some pretty high leagues around Australia.
"To be honest, I was very much leaning towards going down the plan of being a non-playing coach at a high level anyway, so it shouldn't have too much of an influence."
Since the injury Kruger has already been in contact with a number of clubs that were interested in his services.
He said those looking for a playing coach were understanding if he was going to have sit out for at least the start of next season.
Still uncertain about the severity of the injury, the 30-year-old is far from calling time of his playing days.
With some local interest, Kruger also has the option to return home to South Australia or non-playing roles in Victoria.
LUCK is what Temora needs to keep its ambitions of a third-straight Farrer League premiership alive, according to coach Mark Kruger.
After being in front of East Wagga-Kooringal for most of the second semi-final on Saturday, Temora ran out steam in the fourth quarter.
Ahead by four points coming into the final term, the three-goal loss leaves the Kangaroos fighting for their season against Marrar in the preliminary final Saturday.
Losing for the first time in three games, Kruger is still confident he can leave the club on a premiership high.
"We felt we were right in the game on Saturday and didn't have much luck losing myself and Chris McAuley to injury in the first half," he said.
"We are still a massive chance and that's my priority at the minute - making sure we do dig as deep as we can and really challenge for the flag."
McAuley was concussed three times in the first half, and didn't appear in the second, while Kruger's knee injury prevented him any involvement after the first quarter.
With two players injured during the game and Josh Hagar already nursing a knee injury on the sidelines, the midfield run was hampered against the Hawks.
"We just aren't having any luck, we are not being able to finishing a game with a full squad," Kruger said. "We just run out of midfield rotations, and obviously I won't be back, but if we can get the other guys right we still feel like we are as good a shot as any."
While many expected the Kangaroos to be taking Coleambally in the preliminary final, the Blues were no match for the Bombers on Sunday.
After starting the season so well, Marrar look to be getting back to its best at the pointy end of the season.
Marrar hasn't gotten within 50 points of the Kangaroos in their two games this season, but has the advantage of coming through two must-win finals this season.
"It think they've been able to regather some of their momentum and will definitely be a hard task on Saturday," Kruger said.
"The boys were upset after the loss on the weekend, but we also had a real sense that if we could just get some luck and keep players on field, which has been our problem all year, we feel like we have a good as chance as anyone."