THE fate of the Tathra Sea Eagles’ SCAFL season will be decided tomorrow.
After 17 gruelling rounds of Aussie Rules, the first semi-final will be played between arch-rivals Sea Eagles and the fourth-placed Merimbula Diggers.
The first bounce is scheduled for 2.10pm at Lawrence Park in Tathra, with a Tathra loss knocking them out of the finals hunt for 2008.
The Sea Eagles enter the contest on the back of a disappointing 12-goal flogging at the hands of a resurgent Pambula Panthers outfit in the final round.
The side was under-strength for the contest and the loss of those players was telling on the scoreboard.
According to club president, Kevin May, the side is expected to lift this week with captain-coach Leigh Manning celebrating a major personal milestone (200 games).
“We definitely expect the boys to step up a notch for Leigh this week,” he said.
“He has been tremendous for the club over the years and provided great leadership on the paddock.”
Manning debuted for Tathra in 1992 as a 16-year-old and has missed only a couple of seasons since.
In 2005, he became the first junior player at the club to become a senior coach.
Luke Mundy, Matt May, Ryan O’Loghlin, Steve Marshall and Ryan Clarke are all expected to return for the big game.
The return of O’Loghlin in particular will be welcomed by Tathra fans, as the small forward is having his strongest season for the club.
“Reggie” has booted 37 goals for his side and dished off plenty more to his teammates.
“We’re all set for the game and it will be a huge difference having those guys back,” May said.
The Diggers enter the must-win match with confidence after an indifferent start to the year.
Two wins from their last three games, including thrashing the Panthers by 50 points, will give them a sniff of an upset tomorrow.
Ruckman “Camel” Smith and veteran Dave Little will be the key to success for the Sea Eagles, with their ability to lift another level integral to the contest.
Little in particular has been outstanding this season with his ability to float back as an extra man in defence before pulling down courageous marks in front of goals.
Big forward Brad McBain (34 goals) has been instrumental in inserting his influence on the match this year and he will again be a handful for his opponent.
“I think that the big three (Smith, Little and McBain) will too good for the Diggers on Saturday,” May said.
“The senior blokes have got to lead the way for us.”
Leading the way for the Diggers will be key midfielders Daniel Worden, Grant Regan and Wayne McKenzie.
In the forward line, Chase McIntosh (31 goals), Daniel Edwards (21) and Greg Warren (17) will be a handful for the young Sea Eagles defence. The last time these two sides met was in round 14 when the Sea Eagles snuck home by four goals in a thrilling contest.
Tathra also hold the advantage from their other encounter of the year when they flogged Merimbula by 118-points.
“The Diggers have been in pretty good touch of late and have been led by their key players,” May said.
“But we’ve had the wood over them this year and we’re very confident that we will win it tomorrow.”
TIP: Tathra by 34 points.
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