by Jim Gordon
SEA LAKE NANDALY V HOPETOUN
Hopetoun will need to do some hard work very quickly to regain whatever credibility they had before a disastrous start to the 2013 season. The Devils have been comprehensively beaten by Woomelang Lascelles and last week humiliated by Walpeup Underbool. This week’s clash against a very strong Sea Lake Nandaly side will be a great test for the young Devils after the horror of the first two weeks.
Hopetoun will welcome the return of Deek Roberts and Pat Purcell and with the possibility of also regaining Kyle George and Tom Pridgeon, we should expect a much greater effort from the Devils this week. There are other aspects of Hopetoun’s game that can also improve. Although he kicked four goals last week, Bryce Wellington needs to provide more up forward, Liam Price is in good form and usually does well against the Tiger on ballers and Clint Burdett is building with each game.
After conceding a whopping 38 goals last week, the Devils’ backline will find themselves once again under enormous pressure. They will need to contain Wes Harrison and Cliff Ryan who proved to be headaches for Demon defenders in Sea Lake Nandaly’s Round One win. Hopetoun will again look to Simon Cook who always leads from the front and Scott Heath is a great rebound player with precise kicking.
Even with vast improvement this week, the Devils will need a minor miracle to win as they are coming up against one of this season’s early flag contenders.
Coming off the bye, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers look to have strengthened the side that humbled Ouyen United in Round One. Liam Barry, John Foskett and Andy Roberts will be all available for the Tigers this weeks.
Against Ouyen United, the Tiger onball brigade worked well as a unit led by captain Col Durie, ruck rover Bill Barry and ruckman Dan McEwan. Their defence was tight and strong with Stephen Lyons and John Guthrie often marking and clearing the ball. Matt Elliott seemed to thrive in his new leadership role and centre half forward Jason Collins worked tirelessly.
Hopefully Hopetoun can regain some of the pride they have lost in the first two rounds and at least be competitive, but even at their best, the Tigers should win and win well at home.
WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V BEULAH
The Blues have recruited a number of talented players in the off season and look a better outfit than the one that finished fourth last year. Their already strong line-up has been further strengthened by new players Shaun Monohan, Tim McIntosh, Andrew Hughes, Micah and Callum Buchanan who all had good games first up and together they create a very powerful midfield for the Blues.
Unfortunately for Beulah, they come up against the reigning premiers who towelled everyone up last year, thrashed Hopetoun last week and look just as powerful this year as the one that won the 2013 flag.
The Roos will nevertheless be wary of the Blues. Beulah always provides plenty of opposition and they are a tough matchup for Walpeup Underbool. The Roos will probably be without Ross Stone, doubtful after badly dislocating a finger last weekend and Thomas Elliott will miss with a hamstring injury. Josh Charles is still a week or two away from selection.
Beulah’s line-up should be the same as the one that easily accounted for the Lakers last week. Tyler Lehmann has elevated his status in his team and indeed the Mallee league as a whole as he dominated through the centre against Jeparit Rainbow.
It should be an entertaining battle of the big forwards with David King & Dennis Redden up against Walpeup Underbool's 13 goal scorer last week Wade Champion. Kim Hallam most likely to get the job on Champion who is in for a tougher game this week as Hallam got second best for Beulah (after Shaun Monohan) against the Lakers. Beulah will once again need big games from young players Kai Forsyth, Tim Sandford and Tim Phelan who all played well last week. At only 17, Phelan handles the ruck duties with the aplomb of someone older and more experienced. He has a big leap, he is quick and extremely fit. It will be a good challenge and a tough assignment for Phelan against the Roos ruckmen.
Walpeup Underbool will be hoping to continue their very good form of the last two weeks and should win at home against the Blues.
Last Modified on 17/04/2013 17:23
