The exciting outside back missed their first finals win in five years on Saturday with a groin injury sustained in the big win over Junee in the final round of the season.

Both Hall and Tom Jenkins were in doubt for the clash, but only Hall failed to come up.

Coach Nick Hall thought the club pulled the right rein.

"He was pretty close but he couldn't have played," Hall said.

"If I sent him out there he wouldn't have done the job.

"He was reasonably close but I'm glad we rested him to give him another week."

It gave Nayah Freeman an opportunity to start at fullback with Young captain Tom Bush also sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Hall was impressed with how he stepped into the role.

"Nayah had a few tough moments, but that can be fullback sometimes, and his other touches were good," he said.

"When Jock Ward came on he was good and added some energy at the end."

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