by Jim Gordon
Woomelang Lascelles v Jeparit Rainbow
Woomelang Lascelles has a lot to play for in this home game against Jeparit Rainbow. A win will see the Cats two games plus percentage clear of Ouyen United and it will almost guarantee them a spot in the final four. A loss would be devastating with matches to come against Beulah and Walpeup Underbool.
The Cats are one of the few sides the Lakers have defeated this year. Their memorable win at home the last time they met was a come from behind victory. Woomelang Lascelles wasted a three quarter time lead by kicking no goals and six behinds in the final term. The Lakers were deserving winners that day, but the Cats are a much improved side whose recent form is very good.
Woomelang Lascelles were too strong for final four rivals Ouyen United last week. Jayden Lonergan had a great day at centre half forward for Woomelang Lascelles. He lead well and held his marks. The not overly tall Lonergan’s final tally of seven goals indicated his dominance and with Aaron Lonergan marking well at full forward and contributing with two goals, the Cats had a potent two-pronged attack.
Mark Charleson did well in the ruck for the Cats and Dwayne Hamlyn, Chris McMahon and Kane Bannan all gave Woomelang Lascelles a lot of drive out of the centre. The Cats work hard all day, they run and utilise all of the ground. The Lakers are going to have match them closely and slow the game down.
.
After some good form in previous weeks, Jeparit Rainbow’s capitulation against the Blues was very disappointing. Nevertheless Beulah are a very good team and the Lakers’ first half was probably closer than the scoreboard showed at half time.
In the second half Jeparit Rainbow fell away badly. Too much was left to too few. Heath Clugston, Chris Meyer and Ben Marra were very good in the first half, but tired through a lack of support in the second half. This week Elliot Bath and Nathan Millard should be available and will add much needed depth to the Laker midfield.
Despite a lack of success, it has been good to see the younger Jeparit Rainbow players Tom Clugston and Nathan Cocks playing good football and often featuring amongst their best players. What is missing is a lack of drive from Jeparit Rainbow’s bigger players. Josh McCleary and Greg McLeish have struggled over the last couple of games and will be all out to improve. If they can perform well it will give the Lakers the chance of an upset win, but the Cats have a lot more to play for and should win well.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Hopetoun
With the Blues up against the Roos this week, the Tigers have the chance to sew up their top two spot with a win over Hopetoun. In their last win over the Devils, Cliff Ryan starred with nine goals which was the final winning margin between the two sides. Ryan kicked four two weeks ago against Ouyen United and is zeroing in on the MFL goal kicking award.
In defence Zac Robbins was very good last week for Hopetoun in their big loss to the Roos. Walpeup Underbool got away from the Devils in the first term and despite sticking with them on the scoreboard for the rest of the day, the damage had been done.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s Simon Weekley is another who is in form in front of the goals. He kicked ten against United. Andy Roberts wasn’t far behind Weekley’s best on ground performance that day. The Tiger onball brigade of Tom Summerhayes, Jason Collins and Colin Durie are in scintillating form and coach Joey Summerhayes is another who is playing well.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers must keep winning to maintain the double chance and will aim to get over the top of the Devils for the third time this year. They shouldn’t have much trouble as the Hopetoun side is nowhere near strong enough to match it with the Tigers.
Walpeup Underbool v Beulah
Both the Blues and the Roos have a lot to gain and a lot to lose in the MFL match of the day at Underbool. A Beulah win will cement their place on top of the ladder and consign the dangerous Roos to a cut throat first semi final. A win for Walpeup Underbool and they could still grab the double chance with only four points separating first and third. This makes for an enticing encounter.
To add to the mix, Beulah will be looking for revenge after losing to the Roos by two points the last time these two sides met, due to a Tyson Gordon accurate shot right on the siren.
Dennis Redden was a massive inclusion for the Blues last week against the Lakers when he kicked ten goals. The versatile Matt Palmer could be the person to match up on Redden as Palmer can leap and he can run all day.
Beulah will have Stephen Saunders and Sam Liston returning to their side this week. Saunders will come up against Josh Charles in the ruck, back in the side after a week out. Chris Chubb and Daniel Harris are both doubtful for the Roos.
Beulah have a number of dangerous players that the Roos will need to watch closely. The Buchanan brothers have gathered plenty of the ball in the previous two games this season and Ryan McKenzie has been a valuable inclusion. The Walpeup Underbool midfield will need to man up closely to stop their run.
With only a few games left, both teams will be looking to gain momentum on the run into finals. At home, the Roos might just get up in a repeat of their last round win and open up the top two positions on the MFL ladder.
Last Modified on 03/08/2013 18:29
