Leeton-Whitton coach Jade Hodge believes the Crows can take a leaf out of their opponent’s book in Saturday’s Riverina League qualifying final at Robertson Oval.
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Hodge says his side’s biggest issue has been consistency and – conversely – that’s exactly what makes Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes so dangerous.
Harry Collins in the midfield is the obvious danger, and is virtually the Goannas’ barometer, according to Hodge. But he says they’re no one-man outfit.
“The reason they’re a good side is they’re pretty consistent across the board and don’t really have any passengers,” Hodge said.
“That’s why they finished where they finished (second) and we’ll just have to play good footy as a team to beat them.”
Hodge believes the Crows have found their best line-up but it’s time to deliver.
“I’ve got all the confidence in the world we can match it with anyone if we play four-quarter footy,” he said.
“I think the mix and positions we’ve got at the moment is the best we’ll play so hopefully, fingers crossed, we can produce it.”
The Goannas have lost forward Jarrod Kahlefeldt who went down with a hamstring injury on Thursday night but they’re hopeful he may come good in time for the second week of finals.
The side’s have shared the points this season with one each, both at home.
Ironically, on both occasions, the losing side had reason to feel they let it slip, with the Crows kicking 6.15 when they lost in round three but then getting out of jail in the final minutes in the return match at Leeton.
“We were disappointed in the first game we played over there, we kicked really badly and I said after the game that we didn’t deserve to win, playing like that,” Hodge said.
“But the last game gave us confidence in that we gave a seven-goal head start and we managed to reel them in.
“We definitely won’t be able to do that again tomorrow but it gave us confidence to dig ourselves out of a hole and we know if we can play four quarters of footy we’ll be thereabouts.”