Cobras v Animals – who will meet the Bloods?

Tash Gunawardana

Preliminary Finals week is upon us with Manningham Cobras and Emmaus St Leos clashing this Sunday 8th September at Whitefriars College. The winner of this match will play against Aquinas in the Grand Final, after the Bloods progressed straight through to the big dance following last week’s Semi-Final after they upset the minor premiers by 11 points.

The Cobras will be determined heading into this weekend’s “do or die” match, as they will not want to go out in straight sets particularly after winning the minor premiership at the end of the home & away season.

Manningham won both times they have played Emmaus St Leos this season. In their most recent encounter, the Cobras blew the Animals out of the park by 52 points in Round 16 at Koonung Reserve. The dominant performance for the Cobras was won by Jake Cawsey and leading Division 3 goal kicker, Kane Maghamez, as they both kicked four goals apiece alongside Michael Muller who was the Cobras BOG. If the Animals have a chance of causing an upset, they will need to stop Maghamez and Cawsey’s influence in this final to progress through to the ultimate clash in a week’s time.

In Round 5, the Cobras defeated the Animals by 23 points in a high scoring affair at Bennettswood Sports Ground. Chris Beluszar was the star on that day for the Animals with four goals to his name and Maghamez proved to be a handful for the Animals defenders with a bag of seven goals. Ben Arnold was adjudged best afield for his impact in the midfield for the Cobras, so the Animals will need to nullify his influence in the contest on Sunday.

Cobras forward Anthony Raso has been impressive all season, finishing fourth overall in the leading goal kickers, so if the Animals can stop the forward duo of Raso and Maghamez they will go far in knocking the minor premiers out in straight sets.

Beluszar will need to continue his strong form up forward for the Animals that has seen him lead the goal kicking at his club, and finish eighth overall in the division. Beluszar will be determined to make his mark on the match, especially after he had a quiet afternoon in Round 16 – one of only three goalless occasions for the year. Also, the Animals will hope that for the second consecutive week, Matt Hill and Jesse Collins make a significant contribution up forward (they knocked three goals last week against Canterbury).

The Animals will also look for big games from Paul Baranello and Michael Davis, two players who were adjudged best afield for them in their two clashes against the Cobras this season.

Expect both teams to come out firing and to give it their all with the excitement and thrill of playing in the big dance at the forefront.