Yoogali SC keen to complete eight-hour return trip with NPL2 title

The Griffith side will meet the Wagga City Wanderers in the NPL2 final at Deakin Stadium on Sunday, after joining the competition this year.

They were forced to play most of their home games in Cootamundra due to coronavirus restrictions, and will total over 44 hours on the road this season.

Despite the adversities, Yoogali have only dropped one game in their debut season. But Santolin says all eyes are focused on bringing the title back to Griffith.

"I'm happy it's been a positive season but I won't be satisfied until we're holding the trophy, that's our only focus at the moment," Santolin said.

"I think I'll find time to reflect a lot more come the end of the season. Right now, it's all about the final."

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Having beat the Wanderers in round eight, Santolin believes his side can prevail once again if they stick to their guns.

But he admits it could be a different looking Wagga City side they match-up against.

"We just have to be the best version of ourselves. If we look at Canberra White Eagles last weekend, they were a totally different beast to the one we had previously faced," he said.

"Yes, we will try and learn from what we saw from Wagga in the first game, but at the same time we know they could set up differently.

"They could be fitter, they could have different players, so for us it is all about us and our execution. And trusting that if we perform well, it will be enough to get us over the line."

He also said the experienced Matt Menser is key for Wagga and further mentioned that it is in the midfield where the oppositions strengths lie.

"Their midfield is quite sharp and they play a formation that can be quite tough to number up against," Santolin said.

"And also, they have Matt Menser up front who has seen it all before, he will be their calm head along with their experience, they are the areas we need to be alert in when facing Wagga."

Despite having the two leading goal scorers in the competition in Danny Roche and Mitch Bagiante, Santolin failed to signal out any individuals for Yoogali and said it's all about team coherency.

"People talk to me about how we have the two leading goal scorers in the competition. But those two would also have a high number of assists," said Santolin.

"It just comes from selfless play and I am just hoping we have got the right mindset come Sunday. Because it is going to be a team effort that gets up over the line."

And while they have spent many hours on the road this season, Santolin commented it is just part and parcel of Yoogali wanting to test themselves against stronger opposition.