While finals fever has touched several football leagues in the Goulburn Valley, its round-ball counterpart is weighing in with elimination bouts kicking off this Sunday.
In division one men’s action, Shepparton, upon return to the top flight in 2024, has booked a date with Strathdale under Stefo Radevski’s stewardship.
It marks the Reds’ first senior finals appearance since joining BASL in 2017.
Shepparton ghosted into the top six despite a heavy 9-3 loss to Epsom on the last day and, though, Shepparton United upset Tatura’s apple cart by staining the Ibises’ previously unblemished record, the Blues missed the cut-off by three points.
It has justified Shepparton striker Mohamed Algazaly’s decision to leave United mid-season and join his cross-town rival.
Algazaly has netted eight goals in the 2024 campaign and will likely be Shepparton’s focal point in attack when Radevski’s Reds take on third-placed Strathdale on the latter’s home deck on Sunday.
Which won’t be easy.
Strathdale conquered Shepparton South 4-1 in its most recent outing at Beischer Park, ruling over a depleted Southerners contingent on a puddle-ridden pitch.
For South, the chance to revive a hot and cold season lies in its knockout clash with Epsom.
Lewis Coyle’s charges were unravelled 5-1 last time they met the Scorpions, and the revolving door of ins and outs continues to spin with midfield linchpin Shaun Kane unavailable for the must-win bout due to personal reasons.
However, Brent Barrassi and Coyle return from suspension, while Jamie De Smit, who missed two-thirds of the season through injury, is hinted to appear this Sunday.
“This weekend we’re going in pretty confident with everything that’s been going on around the club,” Coyle said.
“Even though the season hasn’t been all sunshine and glam, obviously it’s knockout football, so that changes the mentality of the players.
“The group of players that we’ve got, if they believe in themselves they’ll go places.”
The 2024 season has been a curious one for Coyle.
The Englishman began his tenure at the Southerners with two cup wins including a big scalp of Tatura, but at the conclusion of the regular campaign the ledger reads a middling 5-7.
He, however, is sanguine approaching the Epsom assignment.
“There’s been some games this year where I’ve thought, ‘you know what, we’re five per cent from getting everything perfect’. We’ve just been very inconsistent,” Coyle said.
“But having said that, it’s obviously finals and even though we’re missing players with Shauny Kane being a big loss, I think the group of players that are on show will provide what we need to make it through this round and possibly the next.”
Meanwhile, Tatura can relax for the weekend, having secured its spot in the first semi-final by winning the minor premiership.
In the women’s division one, the Ibises take on La Trobe University on their home deck, but head in as slight favourites having finished one point — and one ladder placing — above the Eagles.
Lastly, Shepparton United jumps straight into the semis thanks to its second-ranked finish, while Shepparton South missed out on finals by an agonising two-point margin.
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