North Wagga midfielder Lachlan Highfield will join forward Alex Grozinger in returning next year but says they haven’t given up hope on this season yet.
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The Saints must beat Temora and CSU and, with a bye, could still scrape into finals if Marrar were to lose two of their last three.
“We’ve got two more games – we want to win big and win well,” Highfield said.
“We have to have a strong start and play four quarters.”
Consistency’s been North Wagga’s greatest enemy. The Canberra-based Highfield says the fact they’re sweating on other results shows things haven’t gone to plan.
“There were games in our hands which we could’ve kept fighting through,” he said.
“We didn’t put our heads down but they’d kick a few goals on us and we’d go back into our shells.
“We’ve got to stay positive and play to our strengths like we did on the weekend.”
With experience in the NEAFL, Highfield said the Farrer League took some getting used to. But he’s consistently been one of North Wagga’s best and is equal second in the league’s player-of-the-year award, voted on by coaches.
“It’s very in-and-under and you’ve got to find your own footy,” he said.
“And you don’t have much time to use it – you’ve got to make quick decisions because before you know it someone’s on top of you, especially The Rock, East Wagga and Coleambally.
“But I’m enjoying it, that’s why I’ll be coming back.”
One of North Wagga’s best wins was at home against Temora earlier in the year and he’s ready to lock horns with an old foe.
“I know Sam Jensen quite well, I’ve played a fair bit of footy against him – he’s a handy player, he’s in-and-under and he’s got a high skill level,” he said.
Temora welcome back dangerous half-forward Tim Shea and Bronson Block.
The Northern Jets will head to Marrar without forwards Justin Mesman (quad) and Josh Plozza (cork), but defender Mitch Robinson’s return will allow Tim Gray to go to centre-half-forward.
Mitch Maguire plays his second game but fellow rising star, Jeromy Lucas, won’t be back after breaking his collarbone in a schoolboy game in Melbourne.
Lucas had loomed as a big Jets’ inclusion ahead of finals after starring in his one senior game, at The Rock, just days after his 16th birthday.
Meanwhile, East Wagga-Kooringal are sweating on follow-up X-rays to determine the extent of Billy Mearns’ wrist injury.
Steve Smith, in his 100th game for the club, has been named at centre-half-forward while the Hawks welcome back defender Guy McAlister (ankle) and James Creasy (hamstring/back) will return in reserve grade.
