by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
This game at Jeparit has huge repercussions for both sides. If the Lakers get the points they join the Tigers on four wins and a chance to get off the bottom of the ladder. A loss will make it very hard for them to make the finals and would give Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers a chance to consolidate their spot in the four.
Last week’s win over the Cats with a depleted side will give Jeparit Rainbow a lot of confidence especially as Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers failed to get over the line at home against Hopetoun.
Some astute positional changes helped Jeparit Rainbow in their win last week against the Cats. Daniel Greig went to full forward and Andrew Hiscock played full back for the first time in a 200 game career. Grieg kicked four goals and Hiscock was named one of the Lakers‘ best on the day.
Another to do well last week was youngster Jake Parry who kicked five goals playing as a small, crumbing forward.
Corey Waldron suffered a heavy knock against the Cats, but came back on in the second half and played a great game. With Justin Chilver in the ruck, Jeparit Rainbow will be looking to their midfielders to play well. Ben Marra, Ashley and Heath Clugston and Andrew Jackson have all had good seasons and if Lucas Edelsten can join them, Jeparit Rainbow should just about be able to get enough drive to negate the on ball influence of Tiger coach Col Durie.
Lucas Edelsten has been down on form recently and the Lakers need a lift from him to add to their midfield strength.
Luke Werner has been an inspiration for Jeparit Rainbow over the last month. Werner’s team now needs to follow his example and stick to his game plan.
Only a goal separated these two teams the last time they met. This encounter could go right down to the wire with the Lakers at home maybe just having the on ball advantage to get over the Tigers.
HOPETOUN V OUYEN UNITED
Hopetoun face a new challenge this week coming up against one of the Mallee League powerhouses in Ouyen United.
Containing the Demon onballers in Brett Knowles, Glenn Joyce and Marc Hahnel will be critical for the Devils. These three create a lot of opportunities for United forwards and if Brad Vallance and Sonny Lindsey cut loose, the game will soon slip away from Hopetoun.
Yet the Devils have a set of classy onballers themselves. Young Zac Taggert is improving by the week, Luke Milroy provides a touch of class and Tom Pridgeon is in great form so it should make for an enthralling battle and United may not have things all their own way. Whoever wins this battle will most likely win the match.
Hopetoun has a potent attack. Kain Robins is in red hot form and Bryce Wellington is capable of popping up and doing some damage. Ouyen United will need to get on top of these two, or at least restrict their influence and they seem to have just the right combination to do so. Andrew Jardine is having a great season, Adam O’Callaghan often sacrifices getting kicks himself to stop his opposition and Kieran O’Shannessy and Jarrod Munro are cool in a crisis.
The Devils are in good form and with a near full strength list to pick from should be able to get a gauge where they are at in the League. United will need to make sure they are not flat coming off the bye and if they are on their game, they should be able to defeat Hopetoun even away from home.
BEULAH V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
Woomelang Lascelles really pushed Beulah in Round 7 earlier this year. They went down by seven points, but were only run over by the Blues in the final term. That day the Cats should have had the game all sewn up by three quarter time as up until then they had 29 scoring shots to 16.
Things have changed since that seven point loss and unfortunately for Woomelang Lascelles, Beulah has consolidated and are now in great form, whereas the Cats are in a deep depression and can’t buy a win.
Woomelang Lascelles has injuries galore and were left with literally no bench from quarter time onwards in last week‘s loss to the Lakers. They will be hoping that a few who suffered from concussion will be fit for this week.
Yet it is not all doom and gloom for the Cats. Jason Kreuger kicked four goals running through the midfield to be their best player last week. Christopher Foott, Rohan Coburn and Anthony Foott are all playing well as is Jackson Quirk. Having Joel Donnan back would be a real bonus for the Cats and he is a chance to return to his centre half back position after some extended time off.
Woomelang Lascelles played well and had chances to win against Jeparit Rainbow last week, but some costly misses on goal hurt badly.
Beulah’s midfielders and small forwards dominated in their big win at Underbool. Blues’ pressure all over the ground for four quarters was too much for the Roos who battled to keep the scoreboard respectable.
Gary Hallam was best for Beulah, his run from half back was outstanding and with midfielders in Gareth Hose and Dale Shannon dominating, the ball was in the Blues’ forward line for long periods of play. Jason Turnbull’s five goals and Hose’s three helped Beulah in their demolition of the Roos.
Beulah will be tough for the Cats to defeat. They played some good football against them last time they met, but they will do well to get that close this week.
Last Modified on 14/07/2011 12:21
