Preliminary final weekend! The weekend for ORFFL purists! The four greatest teams in ORFFL 2012 going head to head for a shot a the big one! It's take no prisoners, make no excuses, end of days fantasy action! Get in there!



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WARBURTON WANDERERS(1258) vs POOWONG POTOROOS(1231)



1st vs 6th? 1st vs 4th? Ladder positions won't matter a jot over the next few days as Warburton go into battle against Poowong. All that will matter is which teams get more points. The average difference between the two teams is just 27 points the Wanderers way, and there are some definite stylistic similarities between the sides.



Both clubs have a largesse of talent in the middle of the park; Gary (140), Thompson (112) and Sewell (101) for Poowong, Murphy (116), Griffen (106), Hartlett (91) and Boak (88) for Warburton. Likewise in the FWD half; SJ (97) and Hawkins (95) forming a formidable double act at Poowong, Lewis (98), Hale (97), Sylvia (93) and Chornes (87) currently league's best practice at Warburton.



Reading between the lines and numbers the difference between the two clubs is stark despite both liking the ball to be in the middle and front half. Warburton have a depth of talent that Poowong do not, and Powoong have a Gary Ablett, which Warburton do not. Which in the end can kind of even it out, because if Gary scores 280 - which he is clearly capable of - the Potoroos essentially have a midfield of Gary, Gary, Thompson, Sewell and Mzungu. Which would help offset the gulf in all round depth, and a RUC battle between Warburton's Kruezer (89) and Poowong's own Roughead (65) that will most likely end in a loss for the Potoroos.



At the selection table the Potoroos are still without Jones (83) as STK wind down their season, while Miles (66), who's had an up and down season to be fair, is also absent. Boom kick McKenzie (65) has made himself available to take his spot on the bench though.



Schneider has made himself unavailable for Warburton with a foot injury. Other than that they would appear to be cherry ripe going into this prelim final (I get a chocolate bar for writing that, yeah?).



Given that when these two sides last met, it was decided after the bell, I'm not game enough to predict the winner of this cut throat final. I'll take the easier option and just predict that there'll be tears for whoever falls short. Sincere good luck to you both.







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MILIKAPATI SNAKES(1298) vsSARAH ISLAND SAVAGES(1340)



Another ABSOLUTE corker! North vs South! The billing of the 2nd prelim final perhaps even more tantalising than the 1st, Sarah Island (1) and Milikapati (2) having scored the most points in the ORFFL in 2012. Both sides featuring strong DEF's - Milikapati (1st, 359) Sarah Island (2nd, 343) and plenty of potency in their MID's - Sarah Island (4th, 402), Milikapati (5th, 399). The names Deledio (117), Jack (115), Kelly (104, JPK (121), Goddard (101) and Sloane (107) have been ringing out all season long.



It is a rather different story going into this particular week though. I speak of course of the selection table. Sarah Island missing Sloane, Chaplin (86), Adams (83) and Robinson (90) from their best 15, which is some fairly handy names.



Milikapati have Pavlich (111) under an injury cloud, that aside though, they would appear to be in remarkably good health.



In the end, both clubs have shown themselves capable of putting on a point exhibition this year. With the Savages outs you'd have to favour Milikapati going into this one if you're a sane man. Stranger things have happened though, and this coach won't be conceding until late Sunday arvo. Good luck to us both.







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