AFTER kicking their way to a home semi-final last week, Inverell will be looking to kick their way into the Tamworth AFL preliminary final at Varley Oval today.
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The Saints bounce off against the Narrabri Eagles in the minor semi-final, with the winner to advance to a match-up with the loser of the major semi-final at Bellevue Oval between minor premiers New England Nomads and Tamworth Kangaroos.
The Saints head into today fresh from a 103-point win over the Eagles to secure hosting rights for the sudden death semi.
Not that they are taking too much from that.
Nor the previous meetings between the two.
“We’ve played them three times and in all three games there’s been huge momentum shifts,” Saints captain Nick Baird said.
The game they played at Narrabri there was only a point in it at three-quarter time before the Eagles got on a roll in the final term.
It was similar with the game in Inverell.
Even last week there was only one it after the first quarter.
“A huge turning point was Todd Fagan getting injured,” Baird said. “That slowed their momentum and disrupted their structure.”
It enabled the Saints to get a roll-on and the Eagles couldn’t peg them back.
Baird spoke about needing to slow the delivery into the Eagles’ forward line but said they haven’t really been focusing too much on the Eagles.
With a young side this season, they’ve really just focused on themselves.
It has been a season of the young leading the young and Baird said new coach Hayden Chappel had done a fantastic job this season.
“It’s probably been the making of him as a footballer,” he said.
“He’s really stepped up and been really impressive for us this year.”
That was shown by him winning the Gillies Medal as the competition’s best and fairest.
Chappel won the award from another Saint, with Luke Selig finishing equal second.
“The pair of them have been fantastic in the midfield,” Baird said.
“That’s where we’re trying to win games.”
Today will be about controlling the footy and utilising the extra space of Varley Oval.
“We’ll look to use the width and hopefully get a bit of carry out there,” Baird said.
“We’ll use our youth and exuberance.”
If they can get running wide it might wear down some of the experienced Narrabri players.
The Eagles also fared well in the end of season awards, with Zachary Lauristen winning the Rising Star award and coach Todd Dunn named Coach of the Year.
They will be hoping Fagan is right to play . He is such an integral part of their game as a great target up front.
