Picture: THOMAS MILES
PENOLA faces the biggest test of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara football season today when the club hosts Mundulla at McCorquindale Park.
The round-six match sees the two heavyweights of the competition go head-to-head in what is expected to be a monumental clash.
Both sides are undefeated so far, with Mundulla on top of the ladder largely due to not having had a bye.
Penola has enjoyed bigger winning margins this season, with the closest game a 45-point victory last Saturday against Kaniva Leeor United.
However, Penola A Grade coach Matt Tilby is certainly not taking anything for granted and expects a big challenge.
“It will be a sensational game,” he said.
“I feel as though there is nothing better than playing the best and they are the best, so we are really keen to have a crack at them.”
Tilby said regardless of the quality of the opposition, he takes each game as it comes, but concedes there will be some big challenges he will look at before Saturday’s clash.
One includes Mundulla’s James Hinge, who is second in the league goal kicking.
He said either Alex Moore or Brad Maney would get the job to cover the forward and limit his damage.
“He is a fantastic footballer and a great option for them up forward ,” Tilby said.
“We will have a talk about that through the week.”
Of course Penola has its own spearheads up forward, with both Brad and Adam Merrett high up the goal kicking leaderboard.
Last Saturday they kicked 15 goals between them which sets the Eagles up for a big score if the delivery forward is precise.
Tilby said so far that was working well.
“A lot of credit goes to Brad Bryant, Brock Egan and Simon Berkefeld for the way they are delivering the ball to the likes of Adam Merrett and Brad Merrett,” he said.
“They all have great delivery with the ball in hand.
“Scott Merrett runs and carries well, he is tough and comes off half back or goes through the middle.
“Players find it very hard to tackle him.
“He can run and carry and move the ball that 80 metres, then bang it into the forwards quickly, which is huge for us.”
Tilby said much of that run is generated from the back line, with Moore and Maney able to move the ball down the ground quickly, along with young Harry Porter, who he said had slotted into the A Grade ranks well.
He said Jacob Pfitzner was another important link in the chain.
“Jacob plays off a half back flank and plays that position exceptionally well,” Tilby said.
“He can find a lot of space, but it disciplined and accountable too.
“He is a guy who has been a great footballer at Penola for many years, is naturally talented, but works hard as well.
“He also has one of the most lethal kicks in the club.”
Overall Tilby said it was simply a game the club looked forward to as a test of the strength of the side at this early stage in the season.
“They are a good football club,” he said of Mundulla.
“I have a lot of respect for the way they go about their footy and you always get a tough contest against them, even when they are down the ladder.
“You can imagine when they are going well you will have an exceptional contest.
“I think it will be really important we get off to a good start and we cannot afford to have lapses throughout the game, or they will make us pay.”
