Thomson coach Paul Lynch has given star Billie Smedts a 70 per cent chance of playing in next week’s GDFNL first semi-final.
The former Geelong and Carlton AFL player missed today’s (Sunday) elimination final win over Bannockburn with a hamstring injury.
“He’s a 70-30 chance to play next week,” coach Paul Lynch said.
“We just didn’t want to risk it. If he plays and does it in the first five minutes, then you’re totally cooked.
“So, we thought we’d just try and battle without him, and we got through.”
Thomson was also without gun midfielder Logan Mitchell (syndesmosis) as it advanced to the last four with an 18-point victory, 9.11 (65) to 7.5 (47).
Lynch says winning without two key factors was “impressive” as it prepares for a second meeting in three weeks with Werribee Centrals, which fell by 50 points to the Belmont Lions in yesterday’s qualifying final.
“To be able to get off the canvas and win, we’ve been able to do that a few times this year where we’ve been a little bit undermanned around the footy,” he said.
“We’ve been able to have blokes step in like Trav McGuire, and Charley Donohue usually plays on a wing, and he played on-ball today and did a job for us.
In a low-scoring affair, neither team could make the most of the stiff northerly breeze in front of goal.
“We probably played our best quarters into the wind,” Lynch said.
“But, we probably didn’t capitalise with the wind, then they didn’t either.
“There wasn’t a lot in the game; we were just in front at the end.”
Big man Jordy Camm was a standout.
“I thought Jordy was excellent,” Lynch said.
“I didn’t see the stats, but I reckon he had it 30, 35 times as a ruckman.”
Camm also kicked two goals along with veteran Jackson Macleod and livewire Darcy Troop.
Fletcher Wilson was the lone multiple goalkicker for Bannockburn, with milestone man Tom Bath and young guns Leigham and Jaxon Elzinga among its best.
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