Last Saturday’s fixtures were the last minor round games this season.
For the next four weeks Northern Areas football and netball slips into serious mode beginning with the elimination final being held at Wirrabara this Saturday.
Laura was expected to host this event but with site works going on at the venue organisers were forced to make the switch.
The program kicks off in the morning with Crystal Brook and Jamestown-Peterborough contesting the junior colts.
Broughton-Mundoora and Southern Flinders follow in the senior colts before Booleroo-Melrose-Wilmington clashes with archrival Broughton-Mundoora in the B grade.
The main event will be an absolute belter of a game between the Eagles and the Lions.
Both will be at – or close to - full strength and fans can expect to see a high quality contest, which should produce a close result.
Meanwhile, on top of the ladder and seemingly on target for its first premiership since 1992 is Crystal Brook.
This 2008 combination under the tutelage of Greg ‘Godfrey’ Irvine is driven by an overwhelming urge to beak the Roosters losing streak in grand final’s and to bring the shield back to the Brook for the first time this century.
The star-studded team can boast the likes of skipper and zone defender Matt Coates, goal-kickers Jamie Kemp, Keagan Brinkley and Waylon Neilson and a host of other quality players including Jason ‘Jack’ Cousins, Shane Arbon, Matt Jackman, James Wardle and the Gale brothers.
The Roosters record of one loss from 16 outings this year has them firmly entrenched as favourites.
In second place is the “unknown quantity” of the competition Southern Flinders.
After losing their first four games the Tigers have won six of their last eight in an amazing turnaround that has set tongues wagging around the district.
The fresh new style of replacement coach Scott Brand has given the club some hope of success this year and they will definitely get a real tilt at the title.
Third on the ladder is last year’s losing grand finalist Broughton-Mundoora.
They looked to be peaking at the right time with three consecutive wins prior to the round 14 flogging by the Tigers but they have since gone down to Crystal Brook and wooden-spooner Jamestown-Peterborough in the two weeks leading up to the major round to see them entering yet another finals campaign in anything but top form.
In fourth place is Booleroo-Melrose-Wilmington whose fairy-tale journey over winter has culminated in the tri-colours coming from nowhere to force their way into the major round by half a percent.
They will find out how good they really are on Saturday and if they can win that sudden death game they will be very dangerous at Orroroo on September 6.
The fall from grace of reigning premier Orroroo has been one of the surprises of the season and it has been a while since the club has not taken part in the A grade major round.
For Jamestown-Peterborough 2008 will be remembered for its history-making fourth consecutive wooden spoon.
Coach Terry Noonan deserves a second year at the helm and it will be interesting to see if he survives a summer of the long knives at Victoria Park.
Interestingly, Crystal Brook and BMW are the only two clubs that have all four grades competing in the finals so they must be doing something right.
Good luck to all teams in the next four weeks of intense competition.
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