Teenage keeper up for finals challenge

HE might only be 14, but Warriors coach Tony Mclean is adamant young goalkeeper Blake Koitka is up to the challenge of grand final day.

Koitka will step up for the Warriors Youth side after regular keeper Josh Fraser moved to Brisbane last week to further his football endeavours in the state capital.

The young keeper, who has proven himself in the club’s junior ranks, will not get an easy assignment in his first step up to the Youth side.

He will face off against the competition’s leading goalscorer Stefan Kolar and a clinical MA Olympic side which has scored 129 goals this season.

Mclean has backed his young keeper to make the most of his opportunity in the Youth side and to just have fun on grand final day.

“He is a good young kid with a lot of confidence,” Mclean said. “As I said to the boys, not many boys get a chance to play a grand final so they need to really enjoy it for what it is.

“Olympic have been the form team of the year, they are a year or two older than us and stronger than us. The pressure will definitely be on them in the grand final. We don’t have anything to lose.

“We are looking forward to the challenge in front of us.”

Olympic have only lost one game this season and will be heavy favourites going into the decider.