One-percenters, points to prove and a player to watch are among the performance indicators for Temora as they prepare to host Marrar in Saturday's Farrer League match of the round.
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The two teams met in the opening round of the season and Kangaroos assistant coach Chase Grintell says Saturday is a chance to show where they’re at halfway through the season.
“It’s going to be a big contest,” Grintell said.
“I reckon round one was probably, well, not the best we’ve played but it was a very good standard of footy.
“It was deadset like playing finals footy. We had the chance to win but they just stepped it up in the last quarter and got us.
“We’ve learnt a lot from then… but we do have a lot of improving to do.”
The Bombers’ three-goal win at Marrra was Grintell’s introduction to the Farrer League, and to Brad Turner, who was goalless that day but has averaged better than four goals a game since.
“We’ve got a couple of plans,” Grintell said.
“I played on him last game for a fair bit. The thing is with him, he’s got a very good leap.
“But I don’t think I’m playing on him this week.”
Veteran Chris Stacey may be the man for the job, after playing well against Coleambally last week.
And, while limiting Turner is one big indicator, Grintell said doing the little things right all over the ground is what matters.
“We’ve changed a few structures to play against them. Their basis is the same as us – a running side – so we’ll adapt a few things from round one,” he said.
“But it’s just the little simple things we’ve got to tick off.
“We’ve worked on getting a good start against Marrar because they’ve been front runners all year and I reckon if we get on top we can give them a shake.”
Proving they’re a genuine contender is one point for Temora, who dropped out of the top three when beaten by East Wagga-Kooringal in their last home game.
Repaying their supporters is another.
“Our aim is not to lose at home and that was a big disappointment,” he said.
“We didn’t play as a side, just playing individual and went away from our game. Really, our coach said to us, we made them look good. We were second to the footy.
“But last week was a big step, going out to Coly. That was a good win.
“That’s what we want to play this weekend and for the rest of the year – as a team, and the structures we’ve been training on.”
The Kangaroos welcome the return from injury of defender Liam Pattison (back) but are still without a couple of key players in Robbie Drummond (hamstring) and Luke Gerhard (ankle).
