IF THE mental side of football counts for anything, Hawkesdale-Macarthur will enter Saturday’s grand final on top of the world.
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Fresh from a week’s rest after a clinical semi-final victory over Penshurst – the side they will play in the decider – the Eagles’ reserves will regain two key cogs for the blockbuster clash.
Brayden Buchanan will take the field in strong shape after a month-long stint with the defence force, while Adam O’Keefe will also front up for the Eagles in the Mininera and District league reserves decider.
Buchanan has played just nine games this season, but his past three have produced eight goals and three near best-on-ground efforts.
He booted an unrivaled six goals against Ararat in round 16, and is expected to provide forward and midfield firepower for the flag hopeful.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur reserves coach Kurt Buchanan said the two inclusions meant the club would take a full-strength side into the grand final.
“We’re shaping up fairly well, we’re going to be full-strength for probably the first time this season,” he said.
“The two blokes coming back in will be a good boost but that means there will be a couple of guys who will be unlucky to miss the game.”
Despite just four games of experience this season, O’Keefe has earned nominations as first or second best-on-ground in three outings.
With both Hawkesdale-Macarthur and Penshurst boasting a win and loss from encounters throughout the year, Buchanan is anticipating a hard-fought clash.
“They beat us by a point when we played them earlier in the year, but we beat them by seven goals when we played them in the semi-finals,” he said.
“Their seniors went out so they will have probably three extra blokes back too. They’ve got some handy players and they are a tough side.
“They like it tough and physical so it should be a hard-fought game.”
With rainfall lashing the region, Buchanan said much of the focus at training had centred on handling the conditions.
“It’s been pretty normal, and I think it’s going to be wet Saturday so it’s about getting footballs in hands and getting used to what will come up,” he said.
The reserves football will begin at 11.45am on Saturday at Glenthompson.
Almost untouchable throughout the home-and-away season, Tatyoon will look to down Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in the senior premiership hit-out.
Led by former Collingwood and Gold Coast big-man Josh Fraser, the Hawks were successful in all but two games and booked a place in the grand final via a 70-point thrashing of Wickliffe-Lake Bolac. The senior grand final will begin at 2.30pm at the Glenthompson Recreation Reserve.