They may be a seven days later than anticipated, but the Mount Gambier Touch Association is ready to jump into a huge week of action with the 2021/22 Your Podiatrist Mix Summer competition finishing with a double dose of finals football over the next couple of days at McDonald Park.
Teams will fight to stay alive and book spots in the decider when the semi-finals take place tomorrow night, while the big dance will be held on Friday evening where big crowds are expected to flock to the “kennel”.
After being forced to wait an extra week for the grand occasions, Mount Gambier Touch Association president Megan Von Duve said excitement had only heightened, so spectators could be prepared to see players push at 110%.
“Its been a good season with only a couple of setbacks with COVID-19 since Christmas,” she said.
“The finals were supposed to be played last week, but some issues with the oval meant we had to postpone the games by a week.
“We have been playing at McDonald Park and East Gambier pays the Council to mow the lawns and they did not do it until late Wednesday night last week and left it with clumps of grass everywhere.
“There was no opportunity for them to come back and fix it and we were not able to mark are lines either.
“So we had to reschedule it to this week, but everyone is really keen to get into the most exciting part and are ready to play.”
One of the most notable impacts from the unexpected postponement will be seen in the middle of the pitch come Grand Final night.
In a major boost for the sport, the Mount Gambier Touch Association had acquired the services of arguably the number one female referee in the world, Amanda Sheeky.
Sheeky was all set to officiate the decider last Friday night, but the late call to delay the big games means her unmatched expertise will not be seen at McDonald Park this week and the association is scrambling to find a quality replacement.
On the pitch the Tiki Roos are the favourites to collect another Division 1 title.
The side has been the class of the competition for the best part of a decade and the experienced team has shown no signs of slowing down enjoying another campaign without a blemish.
Von Duve said the entire squad was stacked with talent.
“Tiki Roos have so much experience and have been in the Grand Final pretty much every year for at least the last decade,” she said.
“They have a lot of experience and pace and recruited a lot of good young people, which has set them apart.
“But the Division semi-final and final will be very close.”
Tiki Roos’ hard work means it enjoys a free pass into the Grand Final, where it meets one of Penola Eagles and Tiki Blues, who face off tomorrow night in what should be a thrilling battle after both sides finished the home and away season with identical win-loss records.
Tiki Hawks topped Division 2 with a strong campaign of 11 wins and just two losses and will lock horns with Tiki Crew in the decider.
Five other semi-finals are also scheduled amongst the grades tomorrow night to ensure there will be action everywhere at McDonald Park.
Play begins from 6pm both nights where food and drinks will be available, while a barbecue will also take place during the decider.
