This Saturday, the Cootamundra Blues are back at Clarke Oval for the final time this season as they welcome the Belconnen Magpies. With the recent history between the two sides, the game is sure to be a highly entertaining affair.
Last season, Cootamundra easily accounted for the Magpies in their round 1 clash running out winners by a huge margin.
With both sides showing their dominance over the next few weeks, the next meeting between the two sides would be a different story, with the Blues being forced to work overtime to claim a tight victory on the Pies home deck.
The game was a spiteful affair with plenty of physical play setting up what's become a heated rivalry.
The Magpies unfortunately forfeited the final regular season meeting when scheduled to come back to Cootamundra, further intensifying the rivalry.
Finally crossing paths once more in the grand final, the Pies finally managed to conquer the Blues in what was a cracking game of football.
With both sides currently playing for their respective seasons, they will no doubt throw everything they have at one another.
The Blues maintain a tentative grip on fourth place but need to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
For Belconnen, sitting in sixth and a win behind the Blues, anything less than a win ends their finals dream.
If the Blues are going to come away with the win, they will need to address their slow starts and improve their defensive accountability.
Blues assistant coach Jacob Tiernan has been in great form all year and with a recent move into a starting midfield role, has really hit his straps.
Tiernan oozes class with the ball in hand, rarely missing his targets. His effective usage coupled with his elite fitness make him a nightmare for opposition coaches to stop.
Another Blue who has impressed this year is Blake Basham.
The key defender may be softly spoken, but his play speaks volumes.
Often finding himself manning the oppositions best forward, Basham never shies away from big tasks and regularly throws himself into contests without a second thought.
The Blues selection committee will be sweating on the availability of defender Dylan Pumpa who has been missing for the past month with a shoulder injury.
Pumpa has been very impressive in his outings so far this season and his drive from the back line has been sorely missed.
The game is scheduled for a 2:30pm start and for once the weather should be perfect for football.
This being their last home game for the season, the Blues are hoping for a great local turnout to support the side.
