Those three words ware currently booming across the Kyabram District League landscape with a genuine ripsnorter between Lancaster and Murchison-Toolamba inbound for Saturday.
Reigning premier Lancaster leads the Hoppers on percentage, but both boast a 2-1 record meaning the round four clash at Murchison Recreation Reserve may see the loser exit the top six.
Though that is not a certainty, one thing is ― no love will be lost.
Ugly scenes swept Mooroopna Recreation Reserve at the final siren of last year’s grand final, but while Lancaster coach Tom Davies has put that behind him, he knows Saturday’s match will be fought tooth and nail regardless.
“It’s a new year and we won’t dwell too much on last year, but there’s a bit of feeling there between us and Murch,” Davies said.
“We’ll gear ourselves up for a big game, they look pretty good again this year as well.
“A real strength of theirs is their forward and a real strength of ours is our backs, so that’s always a good battle.
“They’ve got some pretty good midfielders and our midfield is pretty similar to last year, so really, whoever wins that midfield battle will have a big say on the game.”
Murchison-Toolamba heads into the clash on a high, thumping Girgarre by 127 points in round three.
Andrew and Aidan Lloyd have combined for 20 goals this season and are surefire threats on Lancaster’s radar.
However, Hoppers coach Brett Foley singled out skipper James Milne as one player who could have a key influence on the game.
“We’re looking to our leaders in the team, starting with our captain Milney,” Foley said.
“He’s a big player in our side, he’s been around for a while and you always look to your captain in a game like Saturday.
“We’re just trying to play our best footy, minimise their best players and try and get the win.”
For the Wombats, Davies was dazzled by his charges’ fourth quarter effort against Stanhope last weekend, also heaping plaudits on his young brigade ahead of the grand final rematch.
“Last year we had four 19-year-olds play in our premiership … it’s pretty easy for them to drop away coming into this year, but their maturity and growth as footballers – Noah Sewell, Matt Fleming, Luke Davies – is holding us well,” he said.
“A couple of new blokes coming in have performed well, so if can get a couple of our small forwards kicking goals, that’ll be important.
“Probably the last quarter on the weekend was the first time we played the brand of footy that we want, so if we can play like that on the weekend it will put us in good stead.”
In Foley’s eyes, exorcising the demons of September and levelling the score is paramount.
That considered, he made no indication that Saturday will be an easy task.
“We obviously pencilled this one in when the draw came out, we’re hopefully trying to get the result go the other way,” he said.
“After a disappointing loss to Nagambie then having a good win against Girgarre, we have spoken about it.
“It’s front of mind really, it’s only round four, so five games ago we played in that grand final against them.
“But we are playing a good Lancaster side; they’ve always been tough to beat, so we’re looking forward to it, but we know it’s going to be hard work to get over the line.”
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