Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong coach Christin Macri has backed the Lions’ game style to stand up against Griffith in Sunday’s preliminary final.
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The Lions are out to continue a magnificent season when they take on the Swans in the preliminary final at Narrandera Sportsground.
Griffith coach Will Griggs has revealed the Swans plan to try and run GGGM ‘off their feet’ in what will be a battle of contrasting game styles.
The Swans went through the home and away season undefeated on the back of a slick, quick and hard-running style, while the Lions’ are arguably the best contested football team in the competition.
Macri is not too concerned about Griffith’s grand plans.
“I know in the back half of the season, our footy has stood up to the heat,” Macri said.
“If they are able to get the footy on the outside, if we’re poor at the contest and it spills out into space, any side will chop us up.
“They’ve got their game plan and we’ve got our game plan and at the end of the day, we’ll see what unfolds and see who wins.”
Macri said there is a buzz at Ganmain Sportsground this week as the Lions look to return to a grand final for the first time since 2011.
To make matters even better, the club’s reserve grade team have also won through.
It is a big improvement in a short amount of time for a team that only won two games in 2017.
Macri admitted it was an exciting time.
“Winning a final was very important for us after we got so close in week one,” he said.
“We were in an ordinary position during the third quarter last week so it was good effort to get out of it and win.
“We’re excited and we’re looking forward to it. We’ll control what we can control and prepare to give ourselves the best opportunity to win on the day.”
Since the halfway point of the home and away season, GGGM have won eight out of their 10 games.
One loss was a five-point defeat to Collingullie-Glenfield Park in the qualifying final, while they went down to Griffith at Exies Oval by 19 points in July, on a day where Jacob Olsson or Josh Bubnich never played.
The Lions are set to welcome back Zac Wiencke on Sunday from an ankle injury, while Scott Proctor is doubtful to return from a hamstring tear.
Macri said the prime focus is to be cleaner with the football.
“It was probably not the level we played at (last week) but we certainly need to be cleaner around the footy and deliver the ball better into the forward line,” he said.
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