by Jim Gordon
BEULAH V JEPARIT RAINBOW
Jeparit Rainbow are going to need a much better effort from the whole team if they hope to even get close to this Beulah outfit. The Lakers were terribly disappointing against Hopetoun two weeks ago. The week’s rest in between sees them with a chance to regroup for another challenge, this time against the reining premiers.
It is hard to believe that Jeparit Rainbow defeated the Blues the last time these two sides met earlier in the year. A lot has happened since a depleted Beulah lost by 16 points away from home to the Lakers.
That day the Clugston brothers were simply outstanding for Jeparit Rainbow. Ashley marked well all around the ground and Heath was prominent whether playing in defence or on the ball. Corey Waldron was an inspiration, Lucas Edelsten and Andrew Jackson were two others who had great games.
The Lakers played without confidence against Hopetoun, but they do seem to match up better against Beulah. They are going to need everything going for them and as the same players are featuring amongst their best each week, Jeparit Rainbow will need more players to contribute. They cannot rely on the Clugston brothers, Ben Marra, Andrew Jackson or Corey Waldron to provide all their drive.
Luke Werner is giving a lot of run out of the backline, but he is another one who needs more support, as does Ben Zanker up in the forward line.
It should be a good battle in the ruck where Justin Chilver will come up against Kim Hallam. This could be a highlight of the game as whoever wins will give their midfielders and onballers first use of the ball.
Chilver had better be on his game because if Hallam gives Dale Shannon, Scott Smith and Gareth Hose first use, the game will be over by quarter time.
That was a great win by Jeparit Rainbow early in the year. It looked to be a positive sign for the future. A lot has happened since then and unfortunately for the Lakers, it hasn’t been all good as they languish on the bottom of the ladder with so far only two wins for the season.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V HOPETOUN
This is a big chance for the Devils to gain four valuable points as they come up against a Roo side that is riddled with injury. To make things even worse, the injuries are occurring to some of the best Walpeup Underbool players.
The last time these two met, Hopetoun was comprehensively beaten by a Walpeup Underbool that was thriving in the brilliant early season form of Wade Champion. At one stage the Devils had to put Kane Robins on Champion in an effort to quell his influence. Matt Brown chimed in with seven goals that day. Stopping Champion may be the key for the Devils, but they will need to watch Brown as he was one of few Roos to show more than a whimper against United last week.
Hopetoun will be looking forward to getting Leigh Hutchinson and Luke Milroy back into their side to add a bit more leadership around the ground. Bryce Wellington has been consistently scoring goals, but he is due for a large haul rather than the twos and threes that he has been getting in recent weeks.
Wellington and Robins up forward are a formidable lineup, but another Roo to do well last week was Matthew Palmer running out off half back and he had a great battle with United’s Brad Vallance and is sure to pick up one of the two key Hopetoun forwards.
Centre clearances will probably be the key to winning the match for both sides. Zac Taggert may give the Devils an edge, especially if he can rely on Luke Milroy to back him up.
In the Walpeup Underbool win against Hopetoun last time, the Roo half back line of Jeremy Rowe, AJ Wisneske and Kane Munro ran and repelled with dash if the Devils started to look even slightly dangerous. If only they had this trio back and in form the Roos could win at home. As things are, Hopetoun look to have more talent up forward and should win against a severely undermanned Walpeup Underbool.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V OUYEN UNITED
Woomelang Lascelles are in danger of sliding out of the four if they lose this match. That should be incentive enough for the Cats to give it their best shot. Unfortunately for them, even at their best, they will not be anywhere near good enough to defeat this Ouyen United side.
A lot was expected of Woomelang Lascelles the last time these two sides met as the Cats were undefeated and the Demons were coming off a loss against their nemesis Beulah.
Apart from a brief patch in the first term when the Cats got to within 10 points of the Demons, Ouyen United systematically tore apart Woomelang Lascelles and recorded a huge win.
The Demons are too big, too strong and too highly skilled for the Cats. Their forward line set up means that they had several avenues to goal rather than relying totally on Bradley Vallance and Sonny Lindsey. Their centre line players are as good as any going around and United has a mean defence lead by Andrew Jardine and Kieran O’Shannessy that can play to a zone, or man up one on one. Either way they should be too strong for the Cat forwards.
United rotate three players through the centre, and these players are a key to their success. Brett Knowles works in tandem with Glenn Joyce and Marc Hahnel. Their strength, ability to find space and silky skills mean that if they get the ball, it will end up deep in Ouyen United’s forward line. On the other hand if the ball is in close, one of these three will be in there to get it out.
In a stroke of bad luck, it looks like Chris Foott will be out of the Woomelang Lascelles side as he has a sore neck. Jason Smith will also miss with groin problems and it looks like Trent Donnan will not be available as he was BOG for Pioneers last week. The Cats will be looking for a few players from their reserves to step up. Mark Charleson did well for the Woomelang Lascelles last time they played the Demons and Jason Kreuger kicked two goals
In the long run, it will be the class of Ouyen United’s best players that will be the difference between the two sides. Ouyen United’s best is better than Woomelang Lascelles’ best.
Last Modified on 22/06/2011 18:43
