taccup.com.au previews this Sunday's TAC Cup Semi Finals.
CLICK HERE for the Semi Final teams
Both games will be broadcast on TAC Cup Radio - CLICK HERE for more details
1st SEMI FINAL
Dandenong Stingrays vs Sandringham Dragons
Sunday September 11, 11.30am, IKON Park
Winner to play: Geelong Falcons
Minor premier Dandenong will have to bounce back from a humbling Qualifying Final loss to Murray against a team flush with in-form top-end talent. The Bushrangers beat the Stingrays up at contests and denied them the ball, with only Tom Glen (24 disposals, nine clearances) and Myles Poholke (23 disposals) offering much resistance in the middle. Sandringham’s first-choice on-ball division will be a force to contend with too, comprising national representatives Corey Lyons (31 disposals last week), Andrew McGrath (29, seven clearances), Tim Taranto (27, eight) and Will Setterfield (16 tackles, 10 clearances).
The contest could come down to how well Dandenong tall defenders Oscar Clavarino and Mason De Wit can control Dragons twin towers Hayden McLean and Isaac Morrisby (pictured - left) and provide chances for the likes of Bailey Morrish and Reece Piper to run the ball back out of Sandringham’s forward line. If the Stingrays can give last week’s six-goal hero Josh Battle or dynamic forward Dan Allsop – a star when his team defeated the Dragons by eight points in Round 14 – enough chances to hit the scoreboard, anything is possible.
2nd SEMI FINAL
North Ballarat Rebels vs Oakleigh Chargers
Sunday September 11, 2.15pm, IKON Park
Winner to play: Murray Bushrangers
Alarm bells will be ringing for North Ballarat ahead of a date with the TAC Cup’s September specialists, despite recording a 39-point win against the Chargers in Round 6. Oakleigh won last year’s premiership from sixth position and you wouldn’t tip against them being able to do it again based on last week’s demolition of Calder. The Rebels, meanwhile, lost captain Jarrod Berry (kidney damage) and Jacob Wheelahan (broken wrist) to serious injuries in their Qualifying Final loss to Geelong, but the positive is key playmakers Willem Drew (24 disposals, 12 clearances last week) and Morrish Medallist Hugh McCluggage (20 disposals, two goals) are in form.
They’ll need to be to counter the Chargers, who had Lachlan Walker (25 disposals, eight inside-50s last week) and Jack Higgins (23 disposals, three goals) lead a deep division of midfield contributors against the Cannons. If Oakleigh can control the contests, the Rebels will have to deal with a dangerous forward line boasting taller options Nick Larkey (five goals last week), Pat Kerr, Toby Wooller (pictured - right) and Alex Trigar complemented by zippy smalls Dion Johnstone and Josh Daicos.
Related content:
Stats Central: Stats that mattered in Finals Wk 1
TAC Cup Finals Week 1 review
Last Modified on 09/09/2016 11:59