UPDATE: Maitland Saints midfielder Jim Taranto will miss Saturday’s BDAFL Division 1 grand final after being suspended for two matches by the BDAFL tribunal.
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PREVIOUS: Maitland Saints midfield star Ben Stewart will play in Saturday's BDAFL Division 1 grand final against Singleton.
But his midfield partner Jim Taranto is facing an uphill battle to be fit for the decider at Newcastle No.1 Oval from 11.45am.
Stewart confirmed on Thursday that he had recovered quicker than expected from a hamstring strain, which forced him off the ground at three-quarter-time in Saturday’s preliminary final against Newcastle City.
“Jimmy (Taranto) is trying his best and has had been seeing our club masseuse Chris Lindus in an effort to get up,” Stewart said p
“It’s going to be tough but if anyone can do it, then Jimmy is the one.”
Stewart, who played in two BDAFL Premier League premierships with Cardiff, said the Saints and Roosters had been evenly matched.
“They got us in the first final, but we led for most of the game. I think it really is a 50-50 thing,” he said.
“Grand finals are always hard to pick and it can come down to so many things on the day.”
Both teams have potent forward lines. Wade Beard leads the Saints attack, but Maitland has a variety of options to kick goals.
Travis Bates looms large at the Roosters amassing 113 goals to date this season.
“The last time we met, it wasn’t a free-flowing game at all. There was a lot of contested ball which suits an old fella like me,” Stewart said.
Meanwhile, the combined Maitland-Singleton girls youth team play Cardiff in Sunday’s grand final at No.1 Oval from 10am. The Saints under 11s play City Navy at 8.40am at the same venue.
