by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers will be hoping to make it three wins without a loss so far this season when they take on the Lakers at Jeparit on Saturday. The Tigers have finished runners up the past two seasons and with an injection of new blood, are hoping to go one better this year.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were unstoppable in their first win for the season at Ouyen and they followed that win up another four points after staving off a determined Hopetoun last week.
Against the Devils, the form of their midfield was erratic with Bill Barry and Lance Brown playing well early, whilst Matt Elliott and Darcy Ryan were excellent in the second half. The ever reliable Col Durie spent some time playing deep in the forward half and along with Joel Lloyd kicked three goals. The Lakers are going to have to limit the opportunities of the Tiger midfield and forwards.
Jason Collins is playing well across half forward for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers where his physicality creates opportunities for others. Wes Harrison has been a valuable goal scoring acquisition goals and their defenders, Stephen Lyons, John Guthrie, Ben Notting and Joe Summerhayes are in good form.
Jeparit Rainbow may have another new player available this week. Adam Schulz from Warracknabeal will strengthen the Lakers’ defence and will go some way to making up for the loss of Adam Schumann who is out due to injury.
The Jeparit Rainbow team needs to improve in several areas if they are going to have a chance of winning. In their first two games for the season Jeparit Rainbow have only had one winning quarter in each game plus a few other bursts of good football. They need to play more consistent football and apply more pressure over longer periods of time. Their ball movement into their forwards has been poor and the players need to chose better options as they are making it very hard for their forwards to capitalise.
It is not all doom and gloom for Jeparit Rainbow. New players are starting to fit in better and we can expect to see them playing a bigger role in the team with another game together. Chris Meyer, Josh Murphy and Josh McCleary have featured amongst their best in the first two games while Ryan Bulluss has kicked goals in both games. Simon Clugston is playing some of the best football of his career while young players in Nathan Cocks and Tom Clugston have also been good contributors.
HOPETOUN V OUYEN UNITED
This match up has all the hallmarks of being a tight and torrid affair with both sides desperate for a win. Ouyen United went missing against the Tigers in the first game of the season, but had a stirring win against a very competitive Woomelang Lascelles the week after. On the other hand, the Devils are winless, but not without some good form in their second half against the Roos two weeks ago.
Ouyen United should field much the same line up to the one that defeated the Cats, although Todd Barker is available after suspension. The Demons were very pleased with the form of their big name recruits with Damien Cupido kicking eight goals, Laurence Angwin doing well in the ruck teaming with Leigh Gniel and Jerry Wilson has given them a lot of run off his wing.
Looking for their first win for season the Devils’ prospects look brighter with the inclusion of Kyle George, and Ben Reid may also be a handy inclusion for this week after a run in the reserves last week.
This game could be a chance for Angwin to take control of the midfield and dominate because the Hopetoun ruck stocks look mighty thin. With Riley Cook out due to a broken jaw, it leaves the rucking duties to be shared between Brodie Glen, Simon Cook and Quentin Willmott. To add to their big man woes, Bruce Wellington is also unavailable this week.
If the Devils are to have any chance, their defence will have to curtail the damaging Cupido. Scott Heath is likely to get first go and with his pace he could keep up with the United full forward. The Devils are a good chance to start their season rolling this week, but in the end, the United big name recruits should see them prevail, but it not be by much.
BEULAH V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
Beulah were very impressive last week easily accounting for reigning premiers Walpeup Underbool away from home. The Blues have recruited well and added strength, pace and skill to what was already a strong line up. Beulah got on top early against the Roos and were never headed. It is going to be vital for the Cats to start well and match it with Beulah in the first term to get some confidence going if they are to have any sort of a chance of victory.
Unfortunately for Woomelang Lascelles, the Blues midfield dominated against Walpeup Underbool and they are going to be further strengthened by the inclusion of Steph Saunders who did not play against the Roos. Two players new to the club could also be included, Eddie Keenan and Bill Keenan from the South Australian Football League.
Talented Cat Anthony Foott will be a welcome return and Rohan Coburn is a chance to play.
For Woomelang Lascelles to have any sort of a chance against Beulah, they will need to improve from their last performance. The Cats weren’t far off the pace against United. Inaccurate kicking and some poor decisions making let them down.
Even though the Cats have had two solid weeks on the track leading into this game, Beulah should be too strong at home. Woomelang Lascelles are still missing a few due to injury and look too inexperienced at this early stage of the year to match it with the might of Beulah.
Last Modified on 25/04/2013 11:50
