MFL | Moama hoping third time’s the charm against Congupna

By Bransen Gibson

Aug 25, 2022

Face-off: Moama's Dougal McKindlay wins the tap against Congupna when the two sides met at Moama Recreation Reserve earlier this season. Photo: Bransen Gibson

Moama will be looking to mark its return to the Murray Football League finals with a win on Saturday when it takes on Congupna in a do-or-die elimination encounter.

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With his side back in post-season action for the first time since 2017, Magpies coach Sam Sheldon said the team was fired up.

“The boys are excited and ready to go and just can’t wait to get into it,” Sheldon said.

“It’s exciting for the club to be in finals, we haven’t been there for five years. And with COVID and everything on top of that, obviously it’s exciting times for everyone.”

But in order to get their first finals win since 2017 the Pies will have to accomplish something they have failed to do on two separate occasions this season — defeat the Road.

The fourth-placed Magpies and fifth-placed Road have met twice in 2022, with Congupna topping Moama by 14 and 45 points.

“Congupna are a good side, they are pretty even all over the park,” Sheldon said.

“They have some big boys there. Their midfielders run hard and they have a couple of forwards that have kicked a lot of goals, we just have to match them in a few areas and break even in a couple of others and we should be fine.

“They have some big boys in the air and in the marking contest, we will just have to nullify a few of those things.

“They run an 18-man press and they create a bit of havoc out there on the ground, they rotate heavily through the midfield.

“We are going to have to match them in the contested footy and beat them on the spread. We have put the work in and hopefully we can get the job done.“

Sheldon said his side was in good shape heading into the must-win clash.

“We’ll pretty much be at full tilt, I don’t think we have any injuries at the moment, which is good,” he said.

“We have won some really close games during the year which is what finals are all about. We are in a pretty good position.”

A win would see the Moama’s quest for its first flag since 2010 continue, while a third defeat of the year to Congupna would bring its playoff run come to an end.

The winner will take on the victor of the weekend’s other elimination final between Tongala and Deniliquin.

Moama and Congupna’s elimination final will kick off at 2pm on Sunday, August 28, at Congupna Recreation Reserve.