Ground: Dock Lake Reserve, Saturday, 2.20pm.
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Umpires: D. Gloury and Bra. Campbell.
Last time they met: Round four, 2014. Kalkee 21.13 (139) d Taylors Lake 9.4 (58).
KALKEE’S run at a top three – and potentially top two – finish can continue on Saturday if the Kees knock off Taylors Lake at Dock Lake Reserve.
Since Easter, the team has not always played pretty football, but it has almost always been effective.
A 16-point loss to Laharum is the only blemish on Kalkee’s record in that 11-game span.
Taylors Lake is out of finals contention, but has its own point to prove.
The Lakers had a confidence-building nine-point win over Natimuk United at the weekend and are looking to finish the season strongly.
Coach Deek Roberts said his team needed to repeat the strong first-half it produced against the Kees in their previous meeting, and continue on after the long break.
“We played a ripping first-half against them last time, but we haven’t put together a full game against a good team yet,” he said.
“We have to come out strong and then hold the intensity and effort.
“They’re the favourites, so we’ve got nothing to lose.”
Tim Kelm will miss for the Lakers with work commitments, while Harley Lund is set to play.
Roberts said other changes would be finalised at training last night.
In a good piece of news for Kalkee, big man Tim Wade is only expected to be out for three to four weeks with a shoulder injury that initially looked like it would end his season.
Key forward Adam Carter is up for selection after a nine-goal haul in the reserves at the weekend.
Blair Thomas is also likely to come in, while Alex Bryan and Matt Nield are unavailable.
Kalkee coach Trevor O’Brien said Carter’s return would allow the team to use Josh Beddison – who has played at full forward and full back this year – more flexibly.
“I still like the idea of ‘Rock’ Beddison, Carter and Liam French in the forward line together, but it does give us that option of using him down back if we need to,” he said.
“On Saturday we’re just after a four-quarter effort because we know we’ve had a good month, but Taylors Lake would certainly love to take a top-five scalp.”