Crunch time for Panthers, Magpies

It is do or die this weekend for Carey Park and Busselton as they meet in the elimination final at Payne Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Panthers have finished the season strong in fourth position, toppling teams above them such as Bunbury and the Eaton Boomers on their way to the finals.

Busselton has had an indifferent season, but last weekend in a dead rubber they defeated Carey Park for the second time and ended the Panthers’ seven-game winning streak.

This weekend Carey Park are expected regain seven players into their 22, including captain and full forward Matthew Martin, back-up ruckman Troy Wells and contested ball winner Chris Rintoul.

Busselton are also expected to regain key players such as Adam Booth and Sam Shepherd for the cut throat final.

Carey Park coach John Baggetta said this weekend’s side would be completely different to the one taking the field on Saturday night.

“Considering the type of game it was, it is hard to get guys up to play for life or death when it doesn’t matter what happens, ” he said.

“Busselton have a style of play that they have had for a long time and it not a lot has changed.

“We will be running out with a full side and playing a brand of footy we are confident will bring success.”

Busselton coach Greg Hodson admits his team over-possessed the ball at times on Saturday night and fell into the trap set by Carey Park.

“The first two or three handballs weren’t bad, but when one was missing a target, Carey Park hurt us, ” he said.

“We often let ourselves down when we handball for no reason when we should be kicking.”

Hodson was impressed with his side’s first quarter, which had them kick the first five goals of the game and kept the Panthers to just two behinds.

This weekend at Payne Park the skills are going to be harder to execute and Hodson knows his side must clear the ball quicker than at the weekend.

“We need to clear it out of the muddy middle on Sunday, it won’t be a day for handballing, ” he said.

Winning the contested ball is one of the Panthers’ strengths and coach Baggetta knows it could win them the game if it comes down to the wire.

“If you can’t handle the pressure you’re going to fail, from our perspective every game is a knockout, ” he said.

The Carey Park Panthers will take on the Busselton Magpies on Sunday in the elimination final at Payne Park from 2.30pm.

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