88.3 Southern FM Match of the Day Broadcast
Saturday 5th September
Division 1 - Second Semi Final
Dingley vs East Brighton
Springvale Reserve, Newcomen Road, Springvale
Broadcast time 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Sunday 6th September
Division 2 - First Semi Final
Keysborough vs Caulfield
Jack Barker Oval, Weatherall Road, Cheltenham
Broadcast time 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Sunday Football Netball Show
Tune in on Sunday morning to catch Wiz, Coutta and the Bug as they discuss all things Southern Football Netball League on The Sunday Football Netball Show. This week they are broadcasting live from Jack Barker Oval before the Keysborough/Caulfield Division 2 Semi Final clash. The Sunday Football Netball Show is proudly supported by Ivan’s Pies, and by simply tuning in for the latest news and views, you could win some delicious prizes courtesy of Ivan’s Pies.
On air 10.30am – 12.00pm (88.3 Southern FM) or listen direct from sfnllive.com.au.
Podcasts of last week’s broadcast match and Sunday Footy Show are available above, via ‘Media’, then ‘Radio’, then ‘Podcasts’.
The Finals Week 2/3 SFNL Record can be downloaded by clicking HERE. Earlier issues are available via ‘Media’, then ‘SFNL Record’.
This week’s winners of the
BLK Players of the Round have been announced – to see who’s won, click on the ‘News’ option above and select ‘BLK Player of the Round’.
Division 1 - Semi Final Preview
With Good Will Hunter
@Will_Hunter89
With the first week of SFNL finals has now done and dusted, the stakes get higher in this weekend’s Semi Finals. For one team a spot in the big dance awaits while for another it’s curtains on their 2015 campaign.
Second Semi Final – Saturday 5th September
Dingley vs East Brighton (Springvale Reserve)
The stage is set for biggest game of the year to date. With the two best-performed sides in the competition set to do battle once more, this may well be a preview of the Division 1 Grand Final in a fortnight’s time.
And there will be plenty of motivation for these two teams as the winner will be gifted a week off before a berth in the premiership decider.
Recent history is on the Dingoes side, as they have won four of their last six encounters with the Vampires by an average of 43 points. But tellingly, both of East Brighton’s victories have come in September, which shows they have a game style that holds up in finals.
The addition of Damien Rayson this week (he missed last week with work commitments) will greatly bolster the Vampires’ array of quality midfielders, including Dan Reid, David De Luca and Sam Dillon, but giant ruckman Hamish Dahl again looms as the key. If he can give his mids first use of the pill, they could be hard to stop. And given the Vampires love to create stoppages, he will be given every opportunity to do so.
But the Dingoes will cause heaps of problems if they are allowed to get clean ball use on the outside. Dan Farmer, Luke Bartholomew, Marcus Freeman and Dan Bolger can all turn a game and know where the goals are, so if they are let loose they can cause real damage.
This will be a terrific contest, but the Dingoes simply have too much firepower around the ground and, after being refreshed from their week off, should prevail in a thriller.
First Semi Final – Sunday 6th September
East Malvern vs Mordialloc (Springvale Reserve)
There are no second chances in this cut-throat Semi Final. The winner will go on to play either Dingley or East Brighton in a Preliminary Final while it’s Mad Monday for the loser.
The Panthers started the year in the perfect fashion, and looked one of the sides to beat early. Long-term injuries to key players hurt their momentum, but nevertheless they remain in the hunt.
Mordialloc meanwhile have been a surprise packet, and their meteoric rise from Division 2 has been the feel-good story of the year. But they certainly won’t be resting on their laurels after last week’s upset victory.
Although the loss of Carey Neville (AC joint) is a blow, they still bat deep in their midfield with the likes of Sam Anstey, Todd Bastion, Dave Marguglio, Nathan Evans and Josh Kovarik, and the size and shape of Springvale Reserve, which is similar to their home at Ben Kavanagh Reserve, will suit them perfectly.
But to extend their season beyond this week they need to stop the influence of Matt Terech, who has emerged as one of the most dominant ruckman in the competition. With the big fella palming it down to the throats of Ryan Fitzgerald, Isaac McCrimmon and Jessie Finnen, East Malvern will be hard to contain, particularly with League leading goal kicker Mark Ryan lurking inside the 50.
The Panthers were at times their own worst enemy with their ball use last week, but overall their form in the last few weeks suggests they’ll be hard to beat.
Division 2 - Semi Final Preview
With Jason Barbin
@JBarbin10
Second Semi Final – Saturday 5th September
Oakleigh Districts vs Murrumbeena (Jack Barker Oval)
Oakleigh Districts will go into this game full of confidence for three reasons. One, it is coming off a week off where the players will have rested their bodies in preparation for their most important game of the year. Two, the Oaks have defeated Murrumbeena twice so far this season and three, Murrumbeena fought tooth and nail to defeat Keysborough and may go into this game battled and bruised.
But by no means will any of those aspects factor into the game plan for Murrumbeena this Saturday and by no stretch of the imagination are they no chance at causing another upset and playing off in a grand final in two weeks’ time.
Murrumbeena has easily been the surprise packet of the year and coach Stevie Wright has his side playing with a lot of heart. The Beena may not be the most skilled side in the competition but they play with plenty of ticker and are the most skilled team defensively in the competition.
But they do have attacking options up forward that can prove to be a handful for opposing defenders. Dean Spanos has had an outstanding season playing as a hybrid midfielder/half forward with 29 goals so far. Spanos struggled to have an impact against the Burra and will be keen to turn the tables around and impose himself on the game early.
Anthony ‘go-go gadget arms’ Ekberg-Weiss has the ability to take contested marks and although his kicking can sometimes be an issue, he is a dangerous weapon that Wright has at his disposal and will need to be well-held if Oakleigh are going to win this game.
For the Oaks, Dave Velardo has been a stud inside the forward 50 with 61 goals this season to lead all goal kickers in division two while livewire forward Khaled Kandakji has been a dangerous commodity and has shown the ability to weave his way through traffic and hurt his opponents on the scoreboard with 39 goals.
Former Collingwood-listed player Luke Casey has been another standout for the Oaks this season and provides an experienced head coming off the half back line and is a general in defence, helping the Oaks become a well-rounded side that has the offensive firepower to blow teams out of the water but also the defensive prowess to restrict sides to low scores.
This will be a ripper of a game and one sure to bring excitement to Jack Barker Oval. Murrumbeena will go into this match as underdogs and will give Oakleigh a run for its money but the Oaks should be too strong.
Oakleigh Districts by 11 points.
First Semi Final – Sunday 6th September
Keysborough vs Caulfield (Jack Barker Oval)
Caulfield has been a somewhat topsy-turvy team at times this season but has shown an ability to match it with the best at times throughout the season. Keysborough has struggled to play at its best since the season-ending injuries to Tyson King and Corey Wilkinson but still have enough talent to be a serious premiership contender.
Davor Rajic has stepped into the hole left by King’s injury admirably with 28 goals for the season and will be the focal point for Keysborough inside its forward arc alongside Mat Collett who will need to improve after last week’s performance against Murrumbeena.
Coach Ryan Goodes is an outstanding leader who will again take charge in the midfield alongside Tim Bacic and Bryce Sutton in the ruck. All three players will need to be at their best against the Bears and provide Keysborough with hard running and swift ball movement in transition from defence into attack. Crucial skill errors hurt them last week so they will need to tidy up their disposal or risk giving away cheap goals.
Caulfield were outstanding against Skye in the elimination final and got important contributions from several high-quality players in the win. Adam Ballard was excellent in the ruck for the Bears and will engage in an entertaining duel with Sutton on Saturday.
Midfielders Jason Twirdy and Chris Lewis will be relied upon to provide plenty of drive forward from the stoppages and with the likes of full-forward Adam Connell – who has recovered swiftly from a knee injury to kick 49 goals this year – patrolling inside the forward 50. Connell has proven to be a dangerous forward during his time at Caulfield and a big bag of goals from him will go a long way into Caulfield taking home another upset victory.
The Bears will undoubtedly go into this contest as the underdogs but similar to last week I don’t think it will bother the players too much. They know they have a job to do and they will give it a red hot crack against a Keysborough side who will be eager to prove that they are a side to be reckoned with come finals.
This game should be exciting, tense and entertaining all at the same time and I think Keysborough will get the job done, but not by much.
Keysborough by 14 points.
Division 3 - Preliminary Final Preview
With Andrew Paloczi
@Apaloczi
Preliminary Final – Saturday 5th September
Mount Waverley vs Moorabbin (Meade Reserve)
It is amazing how much can change in a week. When Moorabbin and Mount Waverley met in the Qualifying Final, the Mountain Lions appeared hungry and switched on. They destroyed the Kangaroos by 63 points and the margin was not entirely reflective of Mount Waverley’s dominance. It was only Moorabbin’s accurate shooting for goal that saved it from greater embarrassment.
Yet, these sides clash again two weeks later for a spot in the biggest game of all, and the result seems far from a certainty. Mount Waverley failed to carry its momentum into the second week of the finals and was punished by Black Rock. Moorabbin showed tremendous resolve to hang on for a meritorious victory over a determined Ashwood.
The Division 3 competition has provided tremendous entertainment throughout the season, with regular surprises, and there is every chance that there are more twists to come.
In 2015, the Mountain Lions have beaten Moorabbin twice, whilst the Kangaroos have one victory over this week’s adversary.
Mount Waverley deserves to start as the favourite to claim a Grand Final spot after such a comprehensive and recent demolition of the Kangaroos.
But don’t write off the Kangaroos in what promises to be a much closer battle.
