Preliminary Final
Weston Bears FC v Lambton Jaffas FC
Rockwell Automation Park, Sunday 2pm
Weston Bears assistant coach Nathan Morris says that his side will need to match Lambton Jaffas’ effort and enthusiasm if they are to win this Sunday’s preliminary final at Rockwell Automation Park and qualify for the 2025 decider.
Rockwell Automation Park has traditionally been known as one of the toughest places to travel to in the NNSW NPL competition, which the Bears have reinforced in 2025.
They won eight of their 10 home fixtures during this year’s regular season, with preliminary final opponents Lambton and potential grand final opponents Broadmeadow Magic the only two sides to have picked up three points at Bear Park throughout the year.
The Jaffas’ 2-0 victory at the venue in a rescheduled round nine clash early last month kick-started their current unbeaten run that currently stands at eight games following their semi-final victory over the Edgeworth Eagles.
While the Bears helped start that run, they are now determined to put an end to it in front of a home crowd.
“We should get a good crowd there and it looks like it’s going to be really good weather,” Morris said.
“On our home ground, with how big it is and our style of football, if we match what Lambton’s greatest asset is at the moment, which is their enthusiasm and desire, and settle into the game, we’ll be fine.
“That’s easier said than done though. It’s a credit to the Jaffas. They’ve beaten some good sides to get where they are and they’ve gotten a great roll on. We need to at least match that, and some.
“In a game like this, as a player, you look back at what we put them through in the pre-season and you draw upon that. Looking at the sacrifices you had to make and the injuries you had to play through, and all of that can be all over with a loss.
“We’ll be drawing on that. All the hype that’s been around us and all the boxes we’ve ticked this year will mean absolutely nothing if we lose this weekend. It will be just another year where a decent side didn’t capitalise.
“Motivation won’t be an issue for us. We just need to do our job and tick all the boxes tactically.”
Morris added that after last Sunday’s disappointing performance against Broadmeadow in the major semi-final, his men are even hungrier to get another crack at the premiers on grand final day, and they are entering the preliminary final full of desire and will to fight.
The Bears are searching for a return to the grand final for the first time since the inaugural NPL campaign in 2014 when they were beaten 2-0 by the Jaffas.
Four men from that decider will play key roles this Sunday. Lambton’s coach David Tanchevski was at the helm when the club won their first NPL championship at Jack McLaughlan Oval, and the now 200-gamer Riley McNaughton was part of the Jaffas’ starting lineup.
Weston’s current assistant coach, Morris, and midfielder Connor Evans were both part of the Bears’ starting lineup as well.
Lambton have won three championships since then following grand final triumphs in 2017, 2022 and 2023, and they are determined to give themselves a shot to play for a fifth in 2025.
Weston on the other hand have not been back to the grand final since 2014, and this year they are chasing their first top-flight championship in 30 years since they beat Wallsend 5-0 back in 1995.
The Jaffas’ finals run so far has seen them eliminate Maitland FC and Edgeworth in do-or-die clashes.
They are now eager to add a third major scalp to that list on Sunday as they look to set up a 2023 grand final rematch against Broadmeadow Magic.
It was an impressive performance against the Eagles in the minor semi-final from the Jaffas who extended their unbeaten streak to eight games.
They have scored 28 goals during that run and continued their rapid improvement across the second half of the season after only managing seven goals in their first eight games and eight in their next eight.
Tanchevski always predicted that his team would show their true potential during the second half of the campaign and into the finals, even before a ball had been kicked in round one.
He said his players had worked hard to gel together as a group and get where they are now, and they are now eager to book a spot in the decider.
“The whole group knows that everyone wrote us off, and we want to go as far as we can go,” Tanchevski said.
“If we can get past this week, it’s an unbelievable season for us, but just getting to this weekend is a massive achievement, considering where the team was in the first half of the season.
“The belief for me has never changed. I’ve always seen the quality and mentality in this group. There’s always been the potential there, and they’ve been an easy group to work with.
“I had all the confidence we could get this far in the season, and a lot of hard work has gone in to get here.”
Both sides are almost at full strength for this game, with Jimmy Oates the only Jaffa to miss the match and Brock Beveridge the only Bear in doubt of those without long-term injuries. Both players suffered hamstring injuries during the finals series.
