by Jim Gordon
BEULAH V JEPARIT RAINBOW
The signs are not good for the Lakers as they take on the undefeated Beulah Blues away from home this week. The last time these two sides met, Beulah had a solid 25 point win, Jeparit Rainbow are coming off the bye and previous to that, they lost by eight goals to the Devils. Jeparit Rainbow will be taking this game very seriously. Every game counts now that it is so very tight with three sides after the final two spots in the four.
Beulah will still have a few out for this match, although they will be hoping that Christopher McKenzie will come back into the side and Riley Lehmann could be up for selection after his ten goal haul in the reserves last week. There are some tantalising matchups in this game: Peter Weir up against Blues full back Clayton Shannon and Tom Hallam on Dale Shannon and then there are the Laker onballers Heath and Ash Clugston who will have to be picked up.
The return of Adam Roll for Jeparit Rainbow will strengthen their backline and they will be looking to Justin Chilver in the ruck to get the ball out, Corey Waldron to play well and Jayden Werner to lead the backline. Ben Zanker is a good back up for Peter Weir, but the team is going to need all players firing to get up against Beulah.
The home ground advantage should get Beulah over the line, but a strong effort by the Lakers will give the team confidence for crucial games to come.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V HOPETOUN
Hopetoun will be wary of Walpeup Underbool playing on the Roo’s home ground and although they comfortably accounted for them last time they played, Walpeup Underbool still managed to kick 16 goals, with Matt Brown booting six and the inform Tim Vallance kicking three goals. The Roos looked good against Ouyen United for the first quarter and if they can maintain that form for just a little longer, they could give the Devils a fright.
But really, if Hopetoun want the rest of the league to consider them genuine finals contenders, they are going to have to beat the Roos, and beat them by a fair margin as percentage is likely to be a deciding factor in the formation of the final four.
Marcus Burdett returns for Hopetoun, they will be looking for another big haul from Bryce Wellington and Hopetoun’s defence will have to stay solid to shut down the Walpeup Underbool goal kickers.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V OUYEN UNITED
They are a happy and positive lot down at Woomelang Lascelles and they are going to have to be because this week they come up against an Ouyen United side that was ruthless against the Roos last week. The Dees are kicking high scores, their on ball players in Marc Hahnel, Peter Caldow and Ryan O’Callaghan are in great form and now that Kieran O’Shannessy has returned after injury, they are a tight and mean unit down back. Adam O’Callaghan, Adam Moore and Brenton Jardine give very little away.
To make matters worse for the Cats, it looks like Brett Knowles will play for the Demons this week, Glenn Joyce is back after a week out and Corey Gregg may not be too far away. Sonny Lindsay was ominous last week, kicking nine goals himself and working well at times with the other big forward Ash Connick.
Woomelang Lascelles hope to get a few back this week. Jason Kreuger was a late withdrawal last week due to work commitments, Tony Mudge will be tested after a sprained ankle and Kade Schack is training well after a knee operation and he is a chance to play.
There are still plenty at training at Woomelang Lascelles, they are always positive and moral is high. They are going to have to remain positive because this match could get ugly
Last Modified on 29/07/2010 12:31
