DEFENCE and a fast start are the keys to the Bendigo Braves chances of winning their SEABL conference semi-final clash with Mt Gambier, according to coach Ben Harvey.
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The Braves go into Friday night’s clash in Mt Gambier as the rank underdogs, having lost to the Pioneers in their two previous encounters this season.
“We have a lot of respect for Mt Gambier and we’re expecting them to come out hard,’’ Harvey said.
“They’ve got a very strong first five or six players and they can all hurt us on any given night. Defensively, we need to be on our game. We didn’t do a great job in the first half of the season, but it’s been a strength of ours in the second half of the season. Defence is a huge part of what we want to do.”
The Pioneers’ home stadium the Icehouse has been a fortress for Mt Gambier and Harvey is expecting a frosty reception from the locals.
“If we can start well we can take the crowd out of the game,’’ Harvey said.
“It’s a small stadium, it’s very cold and they will get very loud.
“We need to get a lead early and put some scoreboard pressure on Mt Gambier. They lost their last home game to Geelong and if we can put some pressure on early then doubts will enter their minds.”
The Braves are riding a six-game winning streak into the play-offs.
“Right now I feel as though we’re the deepest team in the league,’’ Harvey said.
“It’s not just about our two imports. In our win over Geelong last week we had four players score in double figures and three others had eight or nine points. Offensively, we don’t need a standout player. We have a lot of weapons.”
Harvey labelled back-up centre Jordan Vandenberg as a potential match winner for the Braves.
The towering 2.16m centre has been hot and cold during the regular season, but Harvey expects big things from the 25-year-old in the play-offs.
“I’ve seen some good signs from Jordan in the last few weeks,’’ Harvey said.
“He can be a game changer for us. Jordan has the ability to get Mt Gambier’s bigs into some foul trouble. We have depth with our bigs and it’s where we hold an edge over Mt Gambier.”
The winner of the game earns the right to host the conference grand final.
Friday night’s game starts at 8.30pm AEST. A live stream of the game will be screened at Bendigo Stadium.
