Minor Semi-Final
Edgeworth Eagles FC v Lambton Jaffas FC
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Saturday 2pm
Edgeworth Eagles coach Peter McGuinness is confident that his men can get the job done in a do-or-die elimination match against the Lambton Jaffas this Saturday if they apply the same effort and attitude that was on display in week one of the finals series.
The minor semi-final is scheduled to be contested at Jack McLaughlan Oval this weekend, but the Eagles are likely to lose their home ground advantage for the second week in a row as the persistent wet weather looks set to force the match to the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
McGuinness’ men played on the synthetic surface at that venue on Monday night after their home qualifying final against the Weston Bears was called off less than an hour before kick-off on Saturday due to hail.
While they lost the game 2-1, their coach was full of praise for the way they performed and competed despite playing more than 80 minutes with 10 men.
“I thought the boys were outstanding, particularly in the first half,” McGuinness said.
“I think Weston are the hardest team we’ve played in the league all year. They’re a very good side, and I thought in the first half we were very, very good.
“We were down to 10 but scored, hit the post and had two cleared off the line. Looking at that and the effort they put in, I was very proud of the boys.
“Weston threw an extra striker up top in the second half, and they put a lot of pressure on us for long periods, and it just gave way in the end.
“It’s two games in a row now that our effort has been outstanding. They’re a pretty determined group and they’re going to look to make amends this weekend.
“Jaffas are in a really good space now. They are unbeaten in quite a few and they are playing really good football, knocking the ball around well and their structures are good. They are worthy opponents in semi-final football, and they’ll be a real test.”
Monday night’s red card saw Xander Woweries sent off in the 10th minute and the club are appealing the decision this week.
Lambton are likely to be without their in-form winger Jimmy Oates after he left the field during the first half of Sunday’s elimination final at Arthur Edden Oval with a hamstring injury.
He has had scans since and the Jaffas are awaiting the results, but coach David Tanchevski said it was more than likely he would be out this Saturday.
The Jaffas extended their undefeated run to seven matches in that fixture with a 3-1 victory over Maitland FC, and they will now need to extend that run to eight if they are to continue their pursuit of a third championship in four years.
Major Semi-Final
Broadmeadow Magic FC v Weston Bears FC
Magic Park, Sunday 2pm
Broadmeadow Magic coach Jim Cresnar says there was plenty of buzz around the club as they prepare to join the finals series this Sunday and following the recent announcement of the Australian Championships draw, at which the premiers will represent Northern NSW Football from October.
The league winners are set to welcome Weston Bears to Magic Park in the major semi-final on Sunday afternoon, but their hopes of playing at home and hosting their old boys’ day following two unsuccessful attempts in recent weeks seem unlikely as wet weather looks set to move the game to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Regardless of where they play though, the equation is simple – the winner will become the first team to lock in their spot in the 2025 decider.
It would be a third grand final appearance in as many years for Broadmeadow, while Weston are looking to qualify for the big dance for the first time since 2014.
“Our guys seem to step up this time of the year and they really enjoy the finals,” Cresnar said.
“It’s exciting with only four teams left, and it’s a good chance for the guys to showcase where they are as players. It’s exciting for the club as well.
“The Australian Championships draw has been massive as well. There’s been a huge amount of interest around the club and for Broadmeadow Magic.
“It will be a tough game on Sunday. We beat Weston twice during the season, but they have been the in-form team in the last few weeks. They are a very good side, well-organised, well-structured and well-coached.
“They have plenty of good players, and it will be very difficult to win this game on the weekend.
“I don’t think it will be at Magic Park the way the weather is looking. I think it will be out at Speers Point. It was supposed to be our old boys’ day, and we’ve tried several times for old boys’ day now, but it just doesn’t look like it’s going to work out. It’s one of those things we can’t control, and we’re just making sure we’re ready for the game.”
Cresnar has a major selection headache for Sunday’s game after he rested the bulk of his first grade regulars for their final-round match earlier this month and several fringe players impressed and put their hands up for starting roles in the finals series.
Club captain Jeremy Wilson is also back on deck from holidays, so Magic are back near full strength for the play-offs.
But they will definitely be without Riley Smith and Bailey Wells for the play-offs. Cresnar is confident both will play a role in the Australia Championships tournament later in the year.
The premiers will be the fresher of the two sides this Sunday after their trial match against Central Coast Mariners last weekend was postponed, while Weston contested their qualifying final against Edgeworth Eagles on the synthetic surface at the Speers Point facility on Monday night.
The Bears won that match 2-1 to defeat Edgeworth for the fourth time in all competitions this year, and they will now be looking to beat Magic for the first time after losing to them 2-1 in round eight in April and 3-1 in round 19 in July.
Beating Magic has proved to be no easy feat this year, with Edgeworth the only side to have done so in the league all the way back in round one in February, but the Bears are well and truly ready to have a crack.
“I think we’re right injury-wise. There were no major concerns and there were no substitutions for injuries (on Monday night),” Weston’s assistant coach Nathan Morris said.
“There are bumps and bruises for sure, but we’ll recover, and we’ll be ready to go.
“Magic are a very good side. Everyone knows their quality because they’ve been doing it for years now.
“All these games in the finals, we’re excited to play. There’s a lot on the line, and like Kew (Jaliens) always says to the boys, ‘pressure is a privilege’. There’s pressure on us to get the result because we haven’t beaten them this year, which is something that has been talked about a lot.
“We were always hungry to have another crack at them, and we’re happy that it’s come at this time.
“Those previous games came down to chances. They were both good games that could have gone either way, but they took theirs and we let ours go. When two good teams like these two play each other, it always comes down to who takes their chances, so we’re hoping to do that on Sunday.”
