Omeo District Football Netball League (ODFNL) ladder leader Swan Reach will do battle with reigning premier Omeo Benambra in the qualifying final at the Bruthen Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
Swan Reach, with the backing of Swifts Creek, has filed a motion for key playmaker Darren Allen to be allowed to play after he was denied the right to play his fourth qualifying match of the season when it was abandoned for safety reasons.
The motion would need four clubs to support it to be carried or if it was tied at three-all, ODFNL president Ray Gallagher would have the deciding or casting vote.
Selection and availability this time of the year is always interesting, with clubs bringing in players who have not played the full season, but have done enough to qualify.
This can inspire some teams and work against others with limited playing minutes together in the season.
The sides have played three times for the season, with Omeo Benambra winning the controversial match early in the season that was called off because of poor behaviour.
The Swans have won the other two, by 13 and 18 points.
They will go in as warm favourites, given it is almost impossible to tip against a team at this level that has Daniel Hayes and Alex Saunders in its lineup.
But the Ranges are no slouches, with Aiden Hayward, Brandon Betts, Ross Ansaldi and James Cottrell full of quality and optimism.
Lindenow South will go in as favourites in the junior football, but their opponent, Swan Reach will be buoyed by the fact they beat them by 10 goals in round seven.
The Swampies have redeemed themselves since, winning by five goals, but the Swans know if it all goes well, they are a chance.
A player to watch in the match is Swampie spearhead, Mason Irish, who has 84 goals to his name. He combines well with the highly skilled duo of Kody Hammer and Blade Connolly.
