Tahs out to change luck

MICHAEL McLean is feeling like the little boy with his finger in the dyke.

The Dutch fairytale in which a young lad was smart enough to prevent a catastrophe could easily apply to McLean’s club Waratah.

Decimated by injury and unavailability, the Gardens Oval outfit is seventh on the Premier League ladder but only one win away from finding an entry into the top five.

“We’re determined to give every game our best shot and this one against a Wanderers side that is up and running is no exception,” the second-year Tahs boss said.

“We’ll be a bit unbalanced again this week, with (Justin) Beugelaar likely to miss with a hip problem and question marks on a few others.

“But we’re not out to air any griev- ances. Every player in a Waratah jumper will be out to win the game and as a coach, that’s all I can ask.”

McLean and his players could easily have been boasting a 5-2 win-loss record if earlier results had gone their way.

“We could have beaten the Buffaloes twice and the Tiwis, but that’s footy and we’ll get on with it, even if it does hurt,” he said.

Wanderers get former Port Adelaide spearhead Brett Eddy back for the 4pm clash, while Gove’s Sam Christie and clever on-baller David Ferreira are other additions.

The Eagles have added an element of intrigue by naming Lajamanu’s greatest football export, Liam Patrick, on the interchange bench.

Patrick’s influence in the tight confines of Gardens Oval will be considerable if he is allowed to play as a fastmoving forward. FB HB C

CHF FF H McDonald T Mosquito J Wray A Ellis H Kerinaiua Foll Z Westerberg Inter