A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL & LOCAL SOCCER PREVIEWS
BOTH coaches are claiming underdog status before tomorrow’s State League 5 showdown between Deakin Ducks and Lara United.
The Ring Road Derby has continued to evolve since the Ducks debuted in the metropolitan competition last year.
The Northerners go into the Round 6 showdown at Deakin University in better form, having claimed three wins on the trot, while the Ducks have been inconsistent recently, recording a draw, loss and win in their previous three outings.
Before that, however, the Ducks were flying, with two victories to kick off their campaign, which has seen them hold third on the table.
“If you look at our performances over the past three weeks, we haven’t played anywhere near what we are capable of. They, on the other hand, have done very well. In that sense, you could say it does make us underdogs,” Deakin coach Colin Raj said.
His Lara counterpart, Lindsay Falzon, however, was quick to dismiss the favourite’s tag.
“Firstly, we are playing on their home turf and we’ll be missing two of our key attackers in Damian Nasta (injury) and Craig White (work),” Falzon said.
“We have struggled to field the same team twice all season, so I’d have to say we are the actual underdogs.”
Lara’s defensive unit will need to keep a lid on the league’s top marksman, Harry Woolley, who has netted six times in the first five rounds. Woolley has been ably assisted by strike partner Gareth Manson, who has three goals.
At the other end, Kristian Edwards is in fine form for Lara, having hit the back of the net four times, while Jordan Robertson will be looking to add to his brace in the 2-0 win against the previously undefeated Keilor Wolves.
Neither side, as yet, has managed a victory over the other in the short history of the derby, with both fixtures last year ending in a stalemate.
However, Falzon and Raj will be keen to be crowned the first winning coach tomorrow, to add to the derby bragging rights.
Meanwhile, down the road in Grovedale, the other Geelong-based State 5 team, Barwon, will be hoping to cause an upset and notch its maiden league win when it hosts second-placed Gisborne.