By Roy Ward
IF Dingley captain Lee Wonnacott is any example, the Dingoes are primed for their first Southern Football League division 1 finals series.
Dingoes coach Shane Morwood said Wonnacott, who missed several weeks with a shoulder injury, has already declared himself fit for the Dingoes’ elimination final against Cheltenham at Meade Reserve, Clayton on Sunday.
“Lee has been hanging out for a finals footy for a long time. He would have to lose an arm to miss this match,” Morwood said.
“We usually leave it up to the player to declare themselves 100 per cent fit and Lee has already told us that.”
The Dingoes will go into the match as slight underdogs but having defeated Cheltenham in their previous meeting, anything is possible from the young side.
Morwood said his side would be an unknown quantity in the finals.
“It’s new territory for a lot of them,” he said. “I hope they will be excited and see how they go.
“We will move our last training session to Friday since we are playing on Sunday but it will be all about getting 22 contributors on the day because that is the only way we will be successful.”
The Dingoes are also sweating on the fitness of star wingman Matt Freeman, who hyperextended his elbow in their final round loss to East Brighton.
Morwood said Freeman only had a 30 per cent chance of playing but would get up until the last minute to prove his fitness.
“We go through Matt a lot, he is an important player and it will hurt us if he doesn’t get up,” he said. “It’s 70-30 he doesn’t play but we will give him up to the last minute.”
In division 2 Springvale Districts missed the finals by mere percentage points despite beating Murrumbeena by 46 points on Saturday.
In division 3 Doveton Eagles claimed the minor premiership with Sandown hot on their heels heading into the finals.
Dingley faces Cheltenham at Meade Reserve, Clayton on Sunday at 2.10pm.
