Take a look at all the round 13 Peter Jackson VFL matches for this weekend:
SANDRINGHAM VS CASEY SCORPIONS
For the second week in a row Sandringham face a top four battle. This week they take on the Casey Scorpions, and will be hoping for a different result than last round. Last weekend they received a whack from Werribee, who not only defeated the Zebras by 79 points, but also took their third spot on the ladder. The loss was Sandringham’s first in six outings, and they will be hoping to return to the winners list against a Casey side who have not suffered a defeat since round 4 against Bendigo. Casey will be well refreshed, coming off their third break within five weeks, and Coach Brett Lovett will certainly like the challenge of taking on his old side – his first return to Trevor Barker Oval this season. It is the start of a big three weeks for the Scorpions, facing all of their fellow top four sides – all for the first time this year. With only one defeat so far this year, Casey have a real opportunity to state their finals credentials over the next few weeks. The matchup between Zebra’s captain Beau Dowler and in form Lucas Cook will go a long way to helping decide this match, and the return of injury plagued Marcus Marigliani will be a welcomed sight for Sandy supporters. Sandringham will also honour club stalwarts John Mennie and Neil Bencraft this Saturday with the official naming of the Administration Centre (John Mennie Administration Centre) and the Grandstand (Neil Bencraft Grandstand).
NORTH BALLARAT VS FRANKSTON
North Ballarat kept in contact with the top eight sides last weekend in a crucial contest with the Northern Blues. The Roosters victory ensured that they remain just one game outside of the top eight, with a perfect opportunity to draw level with Box Hill on points this round, with the Hawks having the bye. Standing in their way will be Frankston, a side that has shown much improvement this season, despite limited change to their ladder position. The Dolphins have proved at different stages this year that they can match it with the best teams, but as last week proved, they still need to improve on closing their opponents out of the contest. Two in form players likely to go head to head in this match are Cruize Garlett and Kyle Martin, with Michael Searl likely to go to Frankston forward Khan Haretuku.
NORTHERN BLUES VS GEELONG
Despite dropping to bottom spot on the VFL ladder last week after their loss to North Ballarat, the Blues continue to show that they cannot be taken lightly. The young Blues list continues to take it up to their more fancied opponents, as their young list develops. The Blues will this weekend see the inclusion of some more experienced campaigners as Jeremy Laidler, Chris Yarran, Bret Thorton, Ed Curnow and Jordan Russell take to the field, and search for their first win since round five. Their opponents Geelong will be looking to continue their positive form before the bye, having defeated reigning premiers Port Melbourne, to stop their slide down the ladder. Two old rivals with plenty of history against each other in Nick Meese and Orren Stephenson will be reunited this weekend – the two having met on many occasions across the history of the Northern Bullants and North Ballarat.
BENDIGO VS WERRIBEE TIGERS
For the second week in a row Werribee find themselves up against a team with a sizable winning streak (not the size of Port Melbourne’s 28 games streak), as the Tigers coming off five wins on the trot face Bendigo who have won four in a row. Bendigo’s four wins only feature one top 8 side (Williamstown) whilst it is a similar story at the Tigers having only defeated Sandringham of the top 8 sides in the last five rounds. Both sides now have an opportunity to claim their second top 8 scalp in their winning streak, and consolidate a top four spot. For Werribee it is a great chance to place a two game gap between themselves and fifth placed Bendigo, and maybe move to second spot if results in the Sandringham vs Casey game go their way. Bendigo needs to win to keep in contact with the top four, especially with the bye in the next round. Similar to Werribee, if results go their way in other matches, the Gold could possibly secure a top four spot at the end of this round, or at least draw level with third and fourth on points.
COBURG TIGERS VS COLLINGWOOD
Coburg came out firing against Port Melbourne last week, showing an intensity that had been lacking from the Tigers game over the previous month. Thoughts of finals could become extremely tough if the Tigers were to be defeated by Collingwood this weekend, and that will be on their minds as they host the Magpies this Sunday. The tall timber of Andrew Browne, Angus Graham and Jayden Post up forward caused some headaches for Port last week, and the challenge will be ahead of Kris Pendlebury and Shae McNamara this weekend. In their last game, Collingwood challenged top four team Casey, and will look to try and hamper the Tigers finals chances this weekend. The Magpies forward line will be missing Matt Boland due to injury this weekend, and the likes of John Ceglar and Jarrod Witts will be the main ones needed to shoulder the load up forward.
Please note the 23rd Players for round 13:
Bendigo Gold – Harrison Huntley
Casey Scorpions – Tom Muir (Gippsland Power – Jumper No. 31)
Coburg Tigers – Liam Brandt
Collingwood – Jackson Heagney-Steart
Frankston – Jarryd Caprion
Geelong – Lachlan Howe (Murray Bushrangers - Jumper No. 72)
North Ballarat – Nick Rippon (North Ballarat Rebels – Jumper No. 3)
Northern Blues – Matthew Atta
Sandringham – Xavier Richards (Sandringham Dragons, No. 65)
Werribee Tigers – Kieran Paliouras
Last Modified on 22/06/2012 14:08