LEETON-WHITTON will throw everything they have at the Wagga Tigers this weekend to earn themselves a place in this year’s Riverina Football League grand final.
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The Crows will travel to Ganmain on Saturday where they will face a Tigers outfit that has been in peak form all year.
Last weekend Leeton-Whitton defeated Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes, the only side that has been able to take down the Tigers all season.
Wagga are fresh from a weekend off from the game after finishing first on the ladder.
However, they weren’t afforded the home ground advantage for the qualifying final.
Crows coach Jade Hodge was hopeful that would work in Leeton-Witton’s favour.
“It’s definitely good for us not to have to pay them on their home turf, Ganmain is a neutral ground for both teams,” he said.
“The ground is in good condition, so it’s all set up for a big game.”
The Crows will likely be without young gun Lucas Meline this weekend, who will return to play for the GWS Giants in the North East Australian Football League.
Meline played a big role in last week’s win and Hodge was aware it would be a big hole to fill.
“At this stage we’re pretty sure he will be back playing with GWS, but we’ll just have to see what happens,” he said.
“Obviously it leaves a gap, but I’m confident in our guys.
“We’re all feeling confident heading into the game on Saturday.
“It’s been a really good week coming off the win against Mango.”
The Crows went down to the Tigers in both of their encounters this season, but Hodge said plenty had changed since then.
“I think we’ve gelled more as a team and really started sticking to our game plan,” he said.
“Last week against Mango our pressure … in the second half I’d say we had probably 90 per cent of the footy.
“If we can do that again this weekend, I’m confident we will win.
“Wagga play a very similar game to Mango, so if we can execute our game plan like we did last week, we’re definitely in with a really good chance.”
The first grade side put in two solid training sessions this week in preparation for the game.
Hodge said the team would be leaving nothing behind come Saturday.
“We really want to win and get into that grand final without having to play again,” he said.
“It would definitely be a big confidence boost for us.
“We know what we are capable of and the we know our potential. It’s just bringing it all together again.”
