by Jim Gordon
BEULAH V JEPARIT RAINBOW
In Beulah’s first game for the season, they look to be too strong for Jeparit Rainbow at home. Last week’s loss to Walpeup Underbool was a learning experience for the Lakers who had so many new players it was hard for them to develop a cohesive game plan. In an effort to keep up with the Roos during the course of the game, they switched several players from one end of the ground to the other.
Beulah has recruited well in the off season. They seem to be endeavouring to add a lot more speed and carry this year to get the ball moving quickly to strong forwards David King and new recruit Dennis Redden. Redden will play at centre half forward this week and with talented midfielders Micah and Callum Buchanan joining the club, the Blues could be in for another good season with a first up win against Jeparit Rainbow at home.
The Buchanan brothers have a strong footballing pedigree, as they are the brothers of former Sydney and Brisbane Lions player Amon Buchanan. They will line up in the midfield with Tyler Lehmann who has had an injury free preseason and will be looking to playing a full season for the Blues.
Jeparit Rainbow supporters would have liked what they saw in the first half of their game against the Roos last week as the side had eight new players in it. Coach Luke Werner was pleased with the form of their recruits and although the margin blew out in the second half, the efforts of the younger members of the team and new players was encouraging.
New recruits Chris Meyer and Josh Murphy stood out in the midfield and gave the Lakers lots of drive and all our other recruits showed that they will contribute to the team. Robert McAllister could be in line for promotion to senior after returning to Jeparit Rainbow from Warracknabeal and dominating in the reserves. Regular defender Brett Jensz could also return after being unavailable last week.
The Lakers need to work on their delivery into the forward line as too many passes went astray last week. Nevertheless younger players Adam Schumann, Nathan Cocks and Tom Clugston all showed good signs and the team as a whole will be looking to play the game out better as they faded somewhat against a powerful Walepup Underbool side.
The Beulah oval is in fantastic condition and with new coaches Tom Hallam and Gareth Hose there is a fresh and positive attitude being shown by all players. The Blues will be expecting a big season and are looking forward to the challenge of the strong 2013 MFL.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V HOPETOUN
Early premiership favourites Walpeup Underbool began their campaign for back-to-back flags with a good all over the ground performance and a fifty-point
victory at Rainbow against the Lakers and look to be far too strong for the Devils at home. The Underbool ground looks to be in excellent condition considering the long hot dry summer and it will be a big day for their supporters as the 2012 Seniors and Reserves premiership flags will be presented to the Roos. Adding to the emotion, it will be the first home game since the untimely loss of two teammates, Scott Munro and Tim Vallance in February.
This is a powerful Walpeup Underbool lineup made even stronger with the inclusion of David Piasente after being a late withdrawal last week. However, Matt Brown will miss 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury and coach Luke Nathan is in doubt after rolling an ankle in the win against the Lakers.
Wade Champion, Kyle Munro and Chris Chubb dominated the Roo forward line last week, booting 14 goals between them. Hopetoun will need to match up on these three if they are going to have any chance of winning.
Ben Fisher and Matt Palmer combined well through the centre for the Roos against the Lakers and Jeremy Brown was strong across half back. The Roos’ ability to move the ball quickly into their forwards makes it difficult for defenders. Hopetoun’s Ben Reid withdrew before last week’s game with injury, severely hindering his side’s backline. Reid will be needed this week to help try and curtail Walpeup Underbool’s strong forward line.
The Devils had their chances to take a grip on the game at various times against the Cats last week, but poor disposal causing costly turnovers in the forward line let them down. Unless they can improve their disposal, the Roos will make them pay.
Walpeup Underbool has continued on from where they left off in 2013. It will take an extraordinary effort by any of the other Mallee sides, much less an out of form Hopetoun side, to topple the reigning premiers.
WOOOMELANG LASCELLES V OUYEN UNITED
A Cat conquest of the Demons has been rare event in recent years. This time around Woomelang Lascelles has a good chance to get back on the winning ledger over Ouyen United after their impressive first up win against the Devils last week.
The Cats looked good against Hopetoun and could be a force to be reckoned with this season. Woomelang Lascelles was very impressive in a great display of fine weather football when they stormed home in the second half outscoring Hopetoun by thirteen goals to four.
Jayden Lonergan was a star up forward for the winning side with five goals. Dwayne Hamlyn in his first game for his new club scored two goals himself and fitted perfectly into his side’s game plan. Trent Donnan, Jackson Quirk and Jamie Church all saw a lot of the ball and they were able to deliver it quickly and accurately into a forward line that was on top. It was Church’s first game for the
club and he looks a promising prospect for the rest of the season for the Cats. Trent Donnan did a lot of damage through the midfield winning plenty of his own football and using it very well. Aaron Lonergan was well held early, but came into it as the game progressed and played a very good second half. Mark Charleson played well in the ruck and changing into the forward line.
Last week in their loss to Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, Demons Joshua Langdon, Aron Morrish and Alexander Morrish showed plenty of dash and picked up many touches, new coach Peter Caldow worked strongly in close and prize recruit Damian Cupido kicked four majors with promise of better things to come. Todd Barker will be missing this week as he has a one match suspension after being reported against the Tigers.
Ouyen United will benefit from last week’s hitout against the rampant Tigers. They are a side that will take time to develop and learn each other’s game. Their star-studded lineup looks as if it could develop into a very strong side in time, but they may have to wait a little longer as the Cats should win at home this week. There are promising signs for Woomelang Lascelles after several years in the Mallee football wilderness.
Last Modified on 10/04/2013 10:58
