Preliminary Final
Edgeworth FC v Charlestown Azzurri
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Sunday 2.30pm
Edgeworth FC coach Pete McGuinness says his side must play with desperation when they take on Charlestown Azzurri in the preliminary final on Sunday.
The two sides will meet at Jack McLaughlan Oval eager to win and advance to the grand final against Broadmeadow Magic.
Edgeworth lost to Magic in the major semi-final after they went down 2-0 in a game in which they uncharacteristically struggled to create chances in front of goal.
But McGuinness believed his side could bounce back and make a grand final appearance.
McGuinness said that his side would need to show some fight if they are to knock down the Blues.
“The boys are in good spirits and looking forward to the weekend,” McGuinness said.
“We know we are a good side and I know we have the players to bounce back.
“Obviously, the boys are desperate to get the win on the weekend. It’s been a long season and this is the time of year that all the hard work is for.
“It’s knockout time so we need to ensure that we play with desperation in every moment of the game.
“We need to make sure that the desperation, effort and desire is there which I am sure will be. Take the opportunities that we create and defuse their threats.”
The Eagles will hope that their dynamic Kiwi duo of Seth Clark and Ryan Feutz can reignite the spark that was missing against Magic and return to terrorising defences.
The head-to-head record between the two sides leans in Azzurri’s favour, with one win and a draw in the regular season.
James Pascoe’s men dominantly defeated Lambton Jaffas 4-0 in the minor semi-final to progress through to the next stage of the final series.
Azzurri captain Nigel Boogaard said that his side would take a lot of confidence into this weekend's battle.
“We are feeling good and confident after the result last weekend. Things definitely went to plan,” Boogaard said.
“The boys are confident that if we approach the game like we have then we can get the job done.
“I think this year it’s been important for us to make sure that when you win the highs are not too high and then the lows are not too low. If we have the mentality to keep a level head with the ups and downs, then the results will come.”
The Blues will be desperate to claw their way into a grand final, which they have not featured in since they were Highfields Azzurri in 2008.
Boogaard said that to make it to the grand final would be huge for the club and himself before he retires at the end of the season.
“It is obviously a massive thing for the club if we could make it. We have been building for the last couple of years. This is why Taylor [Regan] and I wanted to come back and get Azzurri back to the glory days,” Boogaard said.
“The club is moving in the right direction. It would be exciting if we can get there.
“Personally it would be nice to win something in my last year and finish on a high.
“But we know that we have to get past this weekend’s game against Edgeworth.
“It should be a good day on Sunday. We are looking forward to the challenge."
The A-League veteran will be prepared to shut down the likes of Clark and Feutz but said that they would not rule any Edgeworth player out from causing damage.
“It is the understanding of what their attributes are like. Every week you analyse the opponent. You need to be confident in your own ability that you can nullify their threats,” Boogaard said.
“But if you concentrate too much on certain individuals someone else can pop up and hurt you.
“It would be nice to get a result again against a different challenge in Edgeworth who play a different style of football.”
Charlestown will remain without prolific attacker Ty Cousins as his appeal to get his two-match suspension reduced was unsuccessful.
But the Blues proved they could get the job done without Cousins against Jaffas, as Harrison Frendo, Jarryd Sutherland, Jack Gallagher and Kyle Munns each got on the score sheet.
“It is nice to see goals have been spread across different players. We have got threats all over the park whether it be in attack or off set pieces,” Boogaard said.