Finals time in Sydney

by PHIL DOYLE

"THE finals are a different game, it's a different season," said St George coach Craig O'Brien in the lead up to this week's all-important first semi-final against Western Suburbs.

At half time last week Wests finals claims were looking shaky before they turned things around in the second half to win comfortably over the minor premiers, UNSW/Eastern Suburbs, and make it into the final four. "At half time we went in there - it's happened all year - and we'd played undisciplined and selfish football," said Western Suburbs coach Laine Spencer. "We were bickering and we were squabbling; I said to the guys if you want bigger things - if you want to play in the finals - then this is your opportunity, and they took it and we played great football in the second half."

St George was given a bit of a fright by the struggling Panthers, and only led by five points at the last change before kicking away for a win. "I've been wrapped with this year, we've had a great season win, lose or draw. For the last six weeks every game has been a final. We had to win and we did that," said O'Brien, who has a full list to pick from for this game. "We haven't played that well over the last three weeks. We need improving. If we drop our concentration our season's over."

O'Brien is confident his young side has the power up forward, in Seccull and Mick Ryan, to kick a winning score, and that the big ground will help his strong running side.

Like so much of the 16-a-side game the engine-room will be crucial, with first touch of the football important as both sides are strong in the midfield. Last week Campbelltown exploited the Crows absence of a recognised ruckman, and with Odgers the Magpies will be in a position to do the same.

Spencer has identified Garner and Johnston as danger players for the Crows, along with O'Brien himself. "O'Brien is like a Wayne Carey," said Spencer. "You've got to say to yourself 'he's going to get those possessions' so you'll have to beat them in other parts of the ground. I think we can match them up. I'll probably play on Seccull. Probably have Chisholm go on Ryan. Our game is based on our defensive run (with) our backmen running to create space for someone else to get into. We need to get our run-on game going and that opens up the centre for our midfielders to get the ball through their corridor. If you get Campbell or Thomlinson one-on-one the rewards come. Midfielders are so accountable, both ways."

The last time these sides met the Crows got up by a goal:"We let everything else bother us rather than play football," said Spencer. "If we play like we played over the last two weeks we will run over them because of the way we are prepared mentally."

Western Suburbsâ achievement to follow up last year's wooden spoon with a finals appearance is a notable one, and is a testament to the hard work the club has done off the field as much as on it. Nonetheless the loss of Dennison and, probably, Lenton means that Wests have some big gaps to fill. Peter Costantino played three-quarters for Wests reserves last weekend and must figure in the equation.

Neither Wests nor St George has lost a game since round 12 and with both in very good form it will come down to who can control the midfield.

"It'll be an entertaining game," said O'Brien.

He's not wrong!

Craig O'Brien when he was a Saint

Disclaimer