Winners set to book their place

By Mark Gullick
CRANBOURNE meets Berwick on Saturday at Edwin Flack Reserve with the first spot in the Casey Cardinia grand final on the line.
The Eagles have played just two of the five weekends since July 30 and are coming off a two-week bye.
The last time the teams met, in round 13 at Casey Fields, Cranbourne smashed Berwick by 123 points.
“They didn’t have (Steve) Finalyson, (Nathan) Waite, (Mitchell) Talbett and (Vergim) Faik, so that’s four better players (missing),” Cranbourne coach Doup Koop said.
“They certainly showed they’re a very good side (in the first half). If you go back to the round two clash, their side has changed considerably since then.”
Berwick’s home-ground advantage adds further interest to the match.
“We’ve lost two and won one (at Berwick),” Koop said.
“On their home ground, their confidence of winning the qualifying final, despite what’s happened this year (us being undefeated), they’d nearly go in as favourites.”
The Cranbourne coaching staff watched Berwick’s big win over Narre Warren.
“I think Berwick ran the ball and linked-up a bit better and they used the wind pretty well,” Koop said.
“The first quarter was arguably the difference in the game. They’ve been good starters all year, so it will be important for us to start well and restrict them if we can.”
The Eagles ran several players through the reserves on the weekend to keep them match fit.
“It was good for Andre (Young) to get another gallop as he has missed a couple (of games) and the other boys went back and performed well,” Koop said.
“The twos got through, which gives us firsts and seconds in the second semi, and that’s good for the club.”
Cranbourne will be keen to atone for its much-discussed finals capitulation last year.
“That’s part and parcel of footy,” Koop said.
“We’ll try and make sure it doesn’t happen again. A good start is a part of that and we’ll need to work a bit harder than last year.”
For what happened last weekend and who’s playing and where this weekend, see Page 86.