Anything can happen in the post-season, that’s Orange City skipper Logan Brockmann’s message to anyone who’ll listen ahead of Sunday’s Blowes Clothing Cup elimination semi-final against the highly-fancied Bathurst Bulldogs.
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Heck, you only need to look back to 2016’s corresponding game to figure that out.
Orange City led that game 27-0 at half-time but fell apart in the second half and lost 39-34 in extra-time, although it was some comeback from the blue and gold hoops.
Granted, this year’s final is featuring two sides on far different trajectories and even though Bulldogs have several players in doubt they’re undeniable favourites.
Brockmann knows that, his side’s dropped both its regular season games to Bulldogs, but funny things happen in sudden-death games.
“We all love playing together and as we know everyone’s got their own different way of getting up for it, but in the finals everyone will switch on and step up to the next level,” he said.
“We’re a young side, but in this team these boys play with a lot of passion and emotion so you just never know what could happen with these boys in the finals.”
The Lions could welcome back Jackson Coote, who missed last weekend’s win over Parkes, while Dogs are sweating on the fitness of Jack Roberson and Izaak Breen.
“Jacko is key to our backline, he’s very good at controlling things and taking us forward, “ Brockmann said.
“We were a bit sloppy in stages (last weekend) where I think we should’ve been a little better (so Coote’s return would help).”
Bulldogs coach Nathan Pearce confirmed Roberson and Breen are in doubt for Sunday’s game, after last weekend’s brutal final round clash against Emus.
He also said there’ll be no chance his side will underestimate the young Lions.
“Eight weeks ago they were dead in the water … so we won’t be taking them lightly.”,” Pearce said.
“City have some really good back rowers and some centre field backs. Logan Brockmann plays hard, and we can’t afford to let him do anything.
“We’d like to get the same result (as last year) but I think we’d like to get it in a more direct manner. Obviously it was an amazing match but we don’t want to play one like that again.
“We want to go out there and dominate from the word go.”
Kick-off at Ashwood Park is at 3.15pm
- ORANGE CITY LIONS: 1 Harry Cooper, 2 Trey Saukuru, 3 Keith Lawson, 4 Joe Alexander, 5 Ethan Beryne, 6 Ben Swadling, 7 Duncan Young, 8 Logan Brockmann ©, 9 Tom Nell, 10 Jackson Coote, 11 Barton Young, 12 Sam Dwyer, 13 Sam Coote, 14 Lachie Lingley, 15 Keegan Harding
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
