Win or go home: Picola United’s football side will face off against Katandra in an elimination final on Saturday. Photo: Michelle Legge
“At the end of the day, that’s why you play football.”
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That’s what Picola United coach football Darby Walsh said on the eve of the Picola & District Football Netball League’s first finals since 2019.
After three years of disruptions and cancellations, the PDFNL finals will kick off this weekend.
Picola United will be in action in both the football and netball post-season, with the Blues set to take on Katandra on Saturday and Jerilderie on Sunday, respectfully.
It will be a pair of must-win games for United, with the loser of the elimination finals seeing its season come to an end.
Walsh said it was exciting to finally have finals back.
“It’s huge. That’s why you play at the end of the day, to be at the pointy end of the season,” he said.
“You want to be there at the end of the year. You want to be the one come finals time that can stand up when it really counts.
“Picola United has been in a position luckily in our recent history that we have played in some finals across both grades of football and netball. We are fortunate to be in this position again where we have got the club to be playing finals football and netball.”
The Blues will face a tough test on the football field coming up against a Katandra side that beat them by 83 points just a month ago.
Walsh said his side could hopefully learn some lessons from that performance.
“I’d be expecting a pretty tight game. We are glad that we have played them recently and we know what to expect,” he said.
“We picked up a few things in our post-match review about the way they move the ball and their key players, but both teams have that advantage.
“I think structures are going to be huge for both teams. I’m sure they are not going to shy away from the way they play footy, and nor will we, it will be a good battle there.
“With finals football, whoever can absorb the pressure the best tends to be the ones who gets the result.”
The weekend’s other elimination final will see Katamatite take on Jerilderie on Sunday. The top four sides all have a bye, with Tungamah set to face Katunga and Waaia to do battle against Strathmerton next weekend.
Must win: Picola United’s Emma Greaves in action earlier this season. The Blues will take on Jerilderie in an elimination final on Sunday. Photo: Steve Huntley
In the netball action, fifth-placed Katunga will take on eighth-placed Tocumwal on Saturday afternoon, while sixth-place finishers Picola United will take on seventh-placed Jerilderie on Sunday.
The Demons were victorious over the Blues the last time the two sides faced off, winning 49-45 back in round six.
The Swans got the job done against Tocumwal in their previous encounter as well, running out 52-26 victors in round 10.
Strathmerton will take on Katamatite and Tungamah will face Waaia in the two qualifying finals next weekend.
PDFNL finals fixtures
Football
Elimination final - Katandra vs Picola United. 2.05pm on Saturday, August 13 at Jerilderie.
Elimination final - Katamatite vs Jerilderie. 2.05pm on Sunday, August 14 at Berrigan.
Netball
Elimination final - Katunga vs Tocumwal. 1.30pm on Saturday, August 13 at Jerilderie.
Elimination final - Picola United vs Jerilderie. 1.30pm on Sunday, August 14 at Berrigan.
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