KEY-POSITION utility Tim O’Keeffe says Warrnambool must be more accountable if it is to upstage Koroit in the Hampden league senior football grand final.
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The Blues will start as underdogs when they tackle the Saints at Reid Oval on Saturday, the third-consecutive decider between the sides and fourth in seven years.
Scott Carter’s men copped a 77-point hammering when the sides met in the second semi-final.
But a convincing preliminary final win against Terang Mortlake – the Bloods managed just two goals after half-time – has rebuilt confidence among the ranks.
O’Keeffe, 26, said the Blues’ lack of accountability was a factor in the forgettable mauling a fortnight ago.
The triple premiership player believed they needed to clamp down on the Saints’ star quartet if they were to avenge their shock grand final loss 12 months ago.
“We’ve got to focus on a few of their players. You give Ben Dobson, Ben Goodall and Joe McLaren room and they’ll hurt you ever day of the week because of their skills and ball use,” he said.
“And Sam Dobson, you’ve got to have someone on his shoulder all day, he’s such a dangerous forward.”
O’Keeffe said Warrnambool could learn from the way Koroit defied the odds to win the grand final last year. The Saints lost the second semi-final by 72 points but mustered a 16-point win when it mattered.
“We’re the underdogs. Last year we were red-hot favourites and we got knocked off. Hopefully we can do the opposite,” he said.
“Usually it’s got something to do with the toss. If you win that and there’s a breeze and you get off to a quick start, it puts a bit of doubt into the minds.
“They won the toss (in 2014) and kicked with the breeze. I’m pretty sure they kicked six goals to nothing.”
O’Keeffe has been a revelation in attack following the season-ending knee injury to spearhead Jason Rowan.
He plays high alongside captain Sam “Moo” Cowling, with Jed Turland used closer to goal, although went back in the preliminary final.
Turland leads the club goalkicking with 53, ahead of Cowling with 49. O’Keeffe has 26, a figure which eclipses his collective tally for the previous six seasons.
“It’s the smallest forward line that we’ve had in the past few years. Jed is fairly small and you’ve got the forward pockets around him. It’s only me and Moo who are tall,” O’Keeffe said.
