In The Mix: Who’s Pushing for Selection in the Grand Final?
Who's knocking on the selectors' door? Who's coming back from injury? And who's under the pump?
WHO IS a chance to play in SCSUL Grand Final?
In this week's In the Mix, brought to you by Bay Villas Resort Port Douglas, we find the players who are giving their selectors plenty of food for thought.
Who's going out, who's sore, who is under the pump? Our reporters attempt to pick all the Grand Final ins and outs. Check it out.
After securing their place in the Grand Final with a Semi-Final victory over The Jets, coach Goodman has had an extra week to prepare his players for the biggest game of their lives. Last week The Giants held an intra club contest, with many of the players barely raising a sweat, well that's at least what they'll be telling themselves after some horrendous scores were dished up, we're looking at you the midfield group. Youngster
James Rowbottom was managed while
Tom Lynch (hamstring) made a very successful return, key forward
Harry Himmelberg struggled, and his indifferent form in recent weeks could well see him in the firing line. The Giants match committee will be pleasantly surprised with the good form of young defenders
Riley Bonner,
Lachlan Sholl and
Damon Greaves. With
Will Day a lock, it appears these three players will be battling it out for the final spot in the back six, where Greaves appears to have the upper-hand at this stage which would make for a Marlion Pickett-like Grand Final debut. With
James Worpel (AC joint) in for surgery, expect
Noah Anderson to be recalled to the lineup after missing the semi-final. Hard-nosed midfielder
Luke Dunstan (pectoral muscle) returned after a long injury layoff, and it remains to be seen if he is a chance to feature for The Giants. A massive selection call looms over out of form, well-paid midfielder,
Tim Taranto, who despite a couple of solid outings, has been largely disappointing since his return from injury.
Verdict: Three changes from the side that defeated The Jets in the semi-final, a Grand Final debut for Damon Greaves who replaces the extremely unlucky Lachlan Sholl. Noah Anderson slots into the midfield for the injured James Worpel, and Tom Lynch returns from injury to replace the out-of-form Harry Himmelberg. The bolter could be Luke Dunstan if ticked off by the medicos.
- Marc McGowan
