Premier C Men’s Semi-Final Previews

The Top 4 in Premier C has been settled for a few weeks.

Now we get to see the best teams in the comp lock horns on Semi-Final weekend!

2^nd SEMI FINAL – PARKDALE VULTURES vs BEAUMARIS (Saturday 2pm – Trevor Barker Beach Oval)

The two standout teams of Premier C, head-to-head for a spot in the Grand Final? Yes please!

The Vultures & Sharks streeted the field in the home & away season, with Parkdale (17-1) finishing a game clear of Beaumaris, then a 3-game gap back to the third-placed St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers.

Both boast high-octane offences, with the Sharks averaging almost 105 points per game, while the Vultures were bang on 100 points per outing.

Defensively, the Sharks hold the edge, conceding just 48 points per game in an incredible defensive performance. The Vultures are the second-ranked defence at a tick under 58 points per match.

They hold a win apiece over the other – Parkdale Vultures by 63 points in Round 3, then Beaumaris returned serve by 10 points in Round 12, handing the Vultures their ONLY loss of the season.

So, if they’re 1-all and Beaumaris have the #1 Attack and the #1 Defence, how did Parkdale finish on top?

The answer goes all the way back to Round 1, when the Sharks lost a 4-point thriller to St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers. That one narrow defeat is essentially all that has separated these two powerhouses.

Here’s our Premier C expert Harrison McIlwaine’s thoughts on the match-up:

HARRISON McILWAINE’S KEYS TO THE GAME

PARKDALE VULTURES

• Win the ruck battle – Peake & Heath are second & third respectively for hit-outs in Prem C. First service to their midfielders will be critical.

• Midfield accountability – Matt Emmanouil has been Mr.Fix It in the engine room this season, averaging 15 contested possessions, 6 tackles & 8 clearances. Given Beauy’s considerable midfield talent, the defensive accountability of Emmanouil & Co. may go a long way towards deciding this game.

• Control the skies – Parkdale are the best Contested Marking team in the division. Expect the likes of Brown, Peake & Castle to have an impact in the air.

BEAUMARIS

• Midfield-Forward Mix – so many of the Sharks’ midfield prime-movers are also capable of hitting the scoreboard. Can all this front half strikepower overwhelm Parkdale’s defence?

• Contain Mitch Brown – Easier said than done, but Cal Linehan has had a massive year. The Big V skipper now has a huge job against the talismanic Brown. What a mouthwatering match-up!

• Start well – The Sharks trailed 64-6 at quarter-time when they met in Round 3. Although it appears lessons have been learned since, Beauy can’t surrender a big head start in a crucial final.

Beaumaris have won 15 straight since Round 3. Parkdale Vultures have lost just one game for the season.

Two worthy Premier C champions square off for that first ticket to the Grand Final and a guaranteed place in Premier B next season.

Harrison’s tip: BEAUMARIS by 11pts.

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1^st SEMI FINAL – ST BEDE’S/MENTONE TIGERS vs AJAX (Sunday 2.30pm – Trevor Barker Beach Oval)

While the Top 2 teams disappeared over the horizon, the Tigers and Jackas fought a running battle for third spot.

In the end, it was the Tigers by a game (13-5 versus AJAX’s 12-6) but the Jackas finished the home & away season with a far superior percentage (more than 22%).

This is primarily due to the Jackas’ solid defence, which only conceded an average of 61 points per game, compared to an average of 73 points per outing conceded by the Tigers’ defensive unit.

Neither team has stormed into September. In fact, their early season form turned out to be a blessing for both of them.

The Tigers won 7 of their first 8 to set up their season. Another 5-game winning streak followed losses to the Top 2, as they further established their credentials as worthy finalists. They will enter, however, having dropped 2 of their last 3 – one to the Vultures (no shame there) and the other to a resurgent Marcellin.

The Jackas rocketed out of the gates to win their first 7 games to get ahead of the curve. However, they’ve gone 5-6 since, including losses to the Top 2 and PEGS in their last 3 starts.

But none of that really matters now. They’ve made it to the First Semi Final and are looking forward not back.

How can they get on top of an evenly-matched opponent and win through to Preliminary Final Day? Here’s Harro’s thoughts:

HARRISON McILWAINE’S KEYS TO THE GAME

ST BEDE’S/MENTONE TIGERS

• Darcy Fountain – He ranks elite for Disposals, Score Involvements & Inside 50s, and is a real barometer and momentum generator for the Tigers.

• Jack Behnk – His talent is obvious. Goals, clearances, highlights – he does it all. Conversely, they’ve looked overly predictable at times without him. If he plays, expect influence. If he doesn’t, can they cover him?

• The Turnover Battle – 42% of the Tigers’ scores come from turnovers between the arcs. Pressure and sling-shotting off the pressure this creates is a hallmark of Brad Berry’s offence. AJAX average 7 fewer midfield turnovers this season. Can Ryder & Co. impose themselves in this space?

AJAX

• Contested Footy – The Jackas have endured reasonably poor form of late, but are still elite for contested ball & clearances. Can they assert themselves in the middle against a young Tigers midfield that plays with swagger?

• Possession – Their five lowest disposal tallies this season have come against their fellow finalists. Can they defy this trend & control the football against one of the best teams in the comp?

• Conversion – The Jackas average 15 more Inside 50s per game than their opposition, but only 6 more Effective Inside 50s. Can they gain territorial dominance then make the most of it by converting it into goals? Their goal accuracy has left a lot to be desired at times (50%). Can they take their chances when it matters most?

They’ve met twice this season for one victory apiece. The Jackas dominated their Round 2 clash, winning it by 55 points. The Tigers then evened the score to win their Round 13 meeting by 25 points.

One of them will progress to the Final 3 and play for a shot at Grand Final glory.

Harrison’s tip: ST BEDE’S/MENTONE TIGERS by 19pts.