Despite three matches remaining in the home and away season, the Coota Blues will finish the 2019 season as minor premiers in AFL Canberra Regional grade, confirmed last Saturday with the Southern Cats' defeat by Belconnen by four points.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Southern Cats were a rough chance for the minor premiership before Saturday's surprising loss, their first at Snowy Oval since 2017. The Cats also needed the Blues to lose their last four matches.
The Blues play Southern Cats at Yass on Saturday with their remaining two matches also at Yass as they take on Goulburn and Yass.
While the Blues will finish top of the ladder, they will most probably play the Southern Cats in the major semi-final on August 17.
Finishing as minor premiers is nothing new to the Coota Blues, finishing top dog in 2014 and again in 2017. In 2014, they won the premiership, while they finished runners up in 2017.
Despite fielding nearly their best side of the season against Murrumbateman, expect a number of Blues changes for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash.
Unavailable due to injury is Tom Anthony and Tom Brody while Jack Caldwell plays under 19-rugby league for Temora. Full forward Sandy Maskell Knight is in doubt with a foot injury as is Zac Oliver.
Coming into the side are Chris Drum and James Collingridge.
In other matches on Saturday, Goulburn travels to Holt to play Belconnen and the winner could decide who hosts the minor semi-final.
The local derby sees Yass host Murrumbateman and the current ladder is Cootamundra, Southern Cats, Belconnen, Goulburn, Murrumbateman and Yass.
The Blues women who suffered a seven-point loss to Tuggeranong last Saturday play second-placed side Queanbeyan. The Queanbeyan side caused a major surprise last Saturday defeating the unbeaten Riverina Lions by 10 points.
It will be a busy day at Joe O'Connor Park with four games of AFL on Saturday. The Blues women start at 9am against Queanbeyan followed by the Blues men at 11am. The second women's match at 1pm is Eastlake vs Riverina Lions, and the final match at 3pm is Yass vs Murrumbateman.