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PYRAMID HILL v MARONG - 2.15pm Sunday at Bridgewater.
Since 1995: Pyramid Hill 29; Marong 14.
Last final: 2013 first semi-final: Pyramid Hill 17.9 (111) d Marong 11.9 (75).
This season's meetings:
Round 4: Pyramid Hill 14.20 (104) d Marong 14.8 (92).
Round 13: Pyramid Hill 12.7 (79) d Marong 6.6 (42).
FOR the second year in a row, Pyramid Hill and Marong will put their seasons on the line against each other when they lock horns in Sunday’s Loddon Valley Football League first semi-final at Bridgewater.
Marong advanced to the second week of the finals after last Sunday’s hard-fought five-point elimination final victory over Newbridge - a side they had lost to by 103 points eight days earlier.
The Bulldogs were also part of a tight contest last week, losing to Bears Lagoon-Serpentine by six points after a last quarter charge in the qualifying final to use up their double chance.
The Bulldogs hold a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over the Panthers this year and have only lost to Marong once since 2005.
One of the first areas of focus for the Panthers will be limiting the influence of Pyramid Hill coach Paul Grayling, who sunk Marong with eight goals in last year’s first semi-final when he was the difference.
COACHES COMMENTS:
Paul Grayling (Pyramid Hill) - “The boys are still keeping very positive... we’re still alive and haven’t got too caught up in what happened last weekend.
“We weren’t embarrassed or demoralised or anything like that, we just ran out of time. We didn’t take our opportunities when we should have and that was a lesson learned that we’ll try to rectify.
“We’ll pick the side that we think will give us the best chance to get over Marong. We should have close to everyone available, so we’ll have a few decisions to make.”
Corey Gregg (Marong) - “The boys took a lot of confidence out of last week’s turnaround and we’re looking forward now to having a crack at Pyramid Hill.
“We haven’t been able to get over the line against them yet this year, but we got ourselves in a winning position against them the first time and we’ll go in this week with belief that we can get the job done.”
TALE OF THE TAPE
Pyramid Hill:
Won: 12. Lost: 5.
Average for: 101.4. Against: 75.8.
Quarters won: 40/68.
Flag: $10.
Marong:
Won: 11. Lost: 6.
Average for: 92.6. Against: 83.2.
Quarters won: 36/68.
Flag: $12.