by Jim Gordon
SEA LAKE NANDALY V JEPARIT RAINBOW
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers must win this game against Jeparit Rainbow to keep in touch with the four. Jeparit Rainbow have winning form and if they do come out on top, and if Hopetoun get up against Ouyen United, the Tigers will be facing a widening gap to stay in touch with the leaders.
The Tigers were very disappointing against Hopetoun last week. They appeared tired and slow against the Devils and when they were six goals behind at the first break, the task of getting back into the game was pretty much already beyond them.
Yet they have very good players all over the ground. They have a pair of high marking, gaol kicking forwards in Nathan Wight and Ryan Dowdy, they have a ball magnet leader in Col Durie and they have the ability and skills to mix it with the best that this competition has to offer. After all, they are the reining premiers.
Peter Weir is in great goal kicking touch for the Lakers and with the two Clugstons, Ashley and Heath in fine form, Jeparit Rainbow should be confident of defeating the Tigers, even if they do have to travel away from home to Sea Lake.
Jeparit Rainbow will not take this match lightly. Although they won last week, it was against the wooden spooners, and even then the Cats were able to match it with the Lakers for most of the game and were only down by three goals at the final break.
Jeparit Rainbow have winning form and should win this game, although with the Tigers eager for a win, and playing at home, the result could be close.
OUYEN UNITED V HOPETOUN
This has suddenly become the match of the round with Hopetoun looking to extend their three wins in a row, and Ouyen United needing to win to maintain credibility as one of the top two sides in the competition.
Hopetoun’s winning streak culminated in a very impressive performance against the Tigers last week when they virtually had the game won in the first quarter scoring seven goals to one, but things will be different this week as they are coming up against a side that seems to play its best football when put under pressure by the opposition.
The Devils are going to have to shut down Ouyen United’s onballers Ryan O’Callaghan, Glenn Joyce and Peter Caldow who are all having great seasons. They are also going to have to do well in defence to shut down Ouyen’s goal kickers Ash Connick who tops the goal kicking, Robbie Miller who scored three last time the Demons played and the good news for the Demons is that they have a few of their more experienced players back this week.
Yet Hopetoun are no slouches up forward themselves and they will be looking for another big haul from Bryce Wellington and it will be interesting to see who runs with the Burdett brothers, in particular Marcus who has dominated matches this year.
Hopetoun will be looking for another great team performance to get over the Demons, but as impressive as Hopetoun have been recently, the Dees may be just that bit too strong and talented at home where they will be strengthened by the return of Jarrod Munro, Jason Hahnel and Sonny Lindsay and Kieran O‘Shannessy shouldn‘t be far away.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V BEULAH
With none of their 12 injury listed players available for this week’s match against Beulah, the Cats are going to find it difficult to match it with the Blues. Beulah are undefeated this year, the Cats have yet to win a game, it could be a very one-sided affair at Woomelang.
Yet Cat fans will have something to look forward to after their spirited game against Jeparit Rainbow last week. They have form players in Harrison Wooding, Clayton Lee and Trent Donnan. Jacob Torpey ran well out of defence last week and then there was the individual brilliance of Brayden Ottrey with his ability to kick long goals on the run.
The Woomelang Lascelles backline is going to have play well against Beulah who have several players capable of kicking a bagful of goals each. Last week they shared the goals around between Jacob Percy, Jarred Combe, Adam Carter and Scott Smith. Tyler Lehmann is in brilliant touch, Thomas Hallam is playing well and Tim Hill is having a great season.
Let’s hope that Cat Brodie Adcock is not too weary after playing all week in Melbourne in the Schoolboys Carnival because, like the rest of the team, he is going to have to run all day if the Cats are to get within range of the Blues.
Last Modified on 03/07/2010 09:14
