INGLEWOOD, already on its best run of form in more than 20 years, is likely to be strengthened by two key inclusions for Sunday’s first semi-final.
Captain Nathan Angelino and key defender Cody Stobaus are expected to prove their fitness for the do-or-die clash.
Coach Fergus Payne said the side had no injuries in last week’s win over Bears Lagoon Serpentine and would enter the match with confidence, having beaten the Bulldogs by 44 points in round 15.
The Woodies have won six games in a row and celebrated their first finals win in 22 years last Sunday, while Pyramid Hill lost to a rampant Bridgewater.
The question is whether Inglewood can sustain its run for another three weeks, beginning with the team that has made the past two grand finals.
Payne said key forward Ben Bisset, who has kicked 73 goals for the season, was one player his team would need to focus on, with a range of options to stand him including Josh Whittle, who fought a fascinating battle with Josh Mellington last week.
“We’re playing good football, and we need to ensure we’re all on the same page,” he said.
Pyramid Hill’s form has fluctuated over the season as the team has dealt with injury disruption.
Last week’s loss to Bridgewater featured six- and seven-goal bursts by the Mean Machine, a problem the Bulldogs will need to address against Inglewood, which has a potent forward line led by Seb Erharter (62 goals) and Kai Cavallaro (24).
Star midfielder Bregon Cotchett has kicked 22 goals for the season as well.
Bulldogs coach Nathan Fitzpatrick noted after the Bridgewater defeat that his team outscored the Mean Machine apart from the two goal blitzes in the first and fourth quarters.
However, while he was encouraged by the fightback in the middle quarters, he bemoaned the head start his team gave Bridgewater and the inability to disrupt the Mean Machine’s run-on in the last quarter.