East Geelong coach Ned Aulsebrook is taking heart from Torquay’s ability to bounce back from a disappointing second semi-final performance and book a grand final berth ahead of tomorrow’s (Friday) GDFNL preliminary final.
For the second time in three years, the Eagles are staring down exiting the premiership race in straight sets after winning the minor premiership if it can’t overcome Thomson.
During the latter part of his first year in charge at Richmond Crescent, Aulsebrook says Torquay coach Dom Gleeson has been an important sounding board.
“I’ve been chatting with Dom the last month or two about different things coming into the finals series,” Aulsebrook said.
“We had a few contests together in big games when I was at Barwon Heads, and I’ve got a great respect for him.
“I’ve certainly been bouncing ideas off him and leaning on him a little bit leading into this finals series.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t mention that (Torquay’s situation) at training this week.
“I look at Torquay and how they’re set up for a big grand final tomorrow.”
Aulsebrook isn’t buying into suggestions East is under the most pressure, with Thomson riding a wave of momentum after knockout finals wins over Bannockburn and Werribee Centrals.
“Externally, that’s something people talk about, and, obviously, we want to avoid that,” he said.
“But, internally, we’re focused on, ‘it’s another game of footy’.
“We woke up last Saturday morning having to win two games of football (to win the premiership), and the mission hasn’t changed.
“We’re no further away than we were a week ago.”
AT SELECTION: GDFNL – PRELIMINARY FINAL
East, chasing its first premiership since 2009, has settled on two changes.
Caleb Lowndes and Ryan Bartel return after missing the loss to Belmont Lions.
They replace Sam King and Ben Flintoff, who will appear in the reserve grade meeting with the Lions.
Thomson has also made two changes, with star midfielders Leyton Thulborn and Logan Mitchell making welcome returns.
They replace Zach Plant (shoulder) and Alby McNamara (soreness).
For Thulborn, it will be his first game since Round 12.
However, Tigers coach Paul Lynch has no issue with Thulborn’s ability to impact the match.
“Leyton is one of those guys who is very, very naturally fit; if we had a 1500m race last night, he would have won it easily,” Lynch said.
“We don’t think it’s an issue. He’s been training while he’s been overseas, so we think he’ll step in and do what Leyton does normally.”
Thomson’s success in the opening two weeks of the finals has resulted from contested football, and Lynch is well aware of the need to limit the Eagles’ uncontested possession as it did against Werribee Centrals.
“They’re probably the best users of the ball, Werribee and East; they probably use the footy better than anyone else,” he said.
“They (East) like to get out and run and use the footy and use their skills, so we’ll have measures in place to stop that.
“The wind certainly took that game away from them a little bit last week.
“This week, with the conditions being a little bit better, we’ll have to have to put things in place to stop East moving the footy.”
X: @krockfootball
