PFNL 2018: Minor premiership on the line as Pinjarra squares off with Baldivis

The top two Peel Football and Netball League heavyweights will clash in a “mini final” likely to decide who takes this year’s minor premiership, which would earn the victor a week off at the start of the finals campaign and home-ground advantage throughout.

It’s undoubtedly the most highly-anticipated game on the PFNL’s fixture, and if recent history is anything to go off spectators will be treated to a blinder.

The two have collided twice already this season, splitting the wins at one each.

Round three saw Baldivis remain unbeaten on the season with a nail-biting 8.9 (57) to 7.12 (54) win, but 10 rounds later (just a month ago now), Pinjarra got revenge with a 7.9 (51) to 5.9 (39) win in the wet.

So, as you can tell from those figures, not much separates the two.

But who has the edge?

1. Pinjarra’s back six is very, very hard to score against

Since returning from the two-week bye the Tigers have conceded scores of just 39, 24, 65 and 38, going at an average of 41.5 points against them per game. Now to be fair three of those games have come against the bottom three (with round 13 against Baldivis the exception), but it remains true that sides struggle to boot goals against the Tigers. They’re the league’s best defensive outfit, having coughed up fewer points than any other side on the year, and they’ll be looking to guys like Brendan Coxon, Brock O’Brien, Kieran May and Jarrod Bowman for more of the same in this clash.

2. The Brumbies’ midfield is up and about

Brendan Tingey, Emmanuel Collard and Eddy Dann were all among Baldivis’ best in a brilliant win over Centrals last week. It’s nothing new to see their names popping up on the scorecard, but it is an ominous sign for Pinjarra, who will be desperate to give their forwards first use. Aden Field has also been a big contributor in recent weeks.

3. Form won’t be a factor

Momentum decides plenty of footy games, but it will be a fly on the wall in this one. Each side knows they’re capable of beating the other, and each side has been in good form throughout the entire season. I can’t imagine either of these clubs heads into this game worried that the other has been playing good footy, and that’s what’s going to make it such a cracker. Just two teams playing their own brand of footy and trying to outdo the other.

“We know there’s going to be a lot of pressure, but we’re ready to handle that. We just need to make sure we keep everything going in the right direction like we have been. We know both us and Pinjarra are going to throw everything we’ve got at each other,” – Baldivis coach Craig Hamersley.

“We’re feeling stronger and more prepared to win right now than we have all season, so we’re really excited for the challenge. Baldivis has been the benchmark all year so to jump them on the ladder would give our group a huge boost. The game’s going to be an awesome battle,” – Pinjarra coach Troy Vidovich.

Baldivis Oval, Saturday, August 18, 3pm