Game 1: Narrabri Eagles v Gunnedah Bulldogs.
The battle of the west shapes as the match of the round. The Eagles came crashing back to earth last week against the Nomads in their longest road trip. Phil Dennis must have spent the week trying to rebuild the confidence in his aerie during the week. The Dogs on the other hand were under the gun early against the Swans but bounced back to win a tough match. They will hold no fears heading across the plains to face the Eagles, and will be looking for revenge after the Eagles rolled them at home in their other match this year. This pair are in a genuine battle for a home final and a second chance in the finals and will give little in this. The Drum likes the Dogs at their best - they have height and run and a hardworking midfield. When Brown is at his peak he is very tough to stop, and with Ewington in the goal square the Eagles backman will need their wits about them. The trip to Narrabri should be short enough to see the Dogs close to full strength. The Eagles and very well instructed and full of run. Barrow, Shawcross and Irvine give them plenty of good ball use from the centre and Hughes and Cooper up front are particularly dangerous when being fed well. The Drum just wonders if the Eagles fitness edge from the start of the season is levelling out, which tips the balance in favour of Pete Chapman's kennel here.
The Drum: Bulldogs by one goal.
Game 2: Tamworth Kangaroos v Muswellbrook Cats.
The Drum said last week if the Cats lost they'd be sacked to the hurdles, but this week sees them step up in grade to face the Tamworth Kangaroos at Number One Oval. The Drum still has some faith in the Cats, and whilst it might be nonsense to give Bryce O'Connor's clowder a genuine winning hope in this, at their best they shape up much taller and stronger than the herd of Tim Cotter. The smaller spaces of the Tamworth ground could actually play into the Cats hands, as any good clearance is even money of being swallowed by Stu McAdam inside fifty to be tens-on to become six points. The Cats best hope might be to use their physical game to knock the Roos off the ball early, and with even luck you just never know. On the other end, the Kangaroos have been challenged by the Nomads and they would be looking to send a message to the rest of the League in this. No matter what the Cats throw at them, The Drum expects the Kangaroos class to tell in the end and they should run out comfortable winners.
The Drum: Kangaroos by ten goals.
Game 3: Inverell Saints v Tamworth Swans.
The Dogs pretty well killed off the Swans' slim final chances last week, and a trip to Varley Oval to face the Saints is not what the Doctor ordered. Nick Baird's calender stamped themselves as serious finals contenders last week with a strong win on the long road to Muswellbrook. Whitton was, by all reports, close to unstoppable in that match, and back on the Varley expanses will keep the Swans back six busy with a repeat effort. This one is tough to analyse, with both sides putting different twenty-twos out each week this year, which makes any attempt to look at match-up tough. The corresponding match this year remains the Swans sole win, and the quality in their midfield will see them get at worst an even use of the ball. Around that The Drum is not sure they can use it to good enough effect. The Saints are tough to beat at home and the Swans this year are unlikely to travel in strength. The Drum suspects anything less than the best from Gary Harriott's bevy just will not cut the mustard.
The Drum: Saints by eight goals.
Last Modified on 07/07/2011 09:50