Traralgon will be looking to return to the winner’s circle when it travels to Maffra in this weekends Gippsland League action.
The third versus fourth clash will highlight round seven of the competition.
The Maroons conceded just its second loss of the season to Wonthaggi a fortnight ago.
“It will be a good test for us against Maffra. I thought we went ok against Wonthaggi, however I was disappointed with our discipline,” said Traralgon coach Mark Collison.
He is confident his Maroons have what it takes to shut down the Eagles forward line which includes powerhouse forwards Darren Sheen and Daniel Beggood.
“We think we have the best full back in the competition in Adrian Slottje,” Collison said.
Slottje was named best on ground in the Maroons round six clash with the Power.
“We think he will be a good match up for Sheen, however it’s more about how we defend as an 18. Our pressure needs to be at the highest standard,” Collison said.
Traralgon is expected to be without Lee Stockdale for at least four weeks, due to a dislocated elbow.
Having conceded just the one game this year, Leongatha is a game clear on top of the Gippsland League ladder.
However it won’t be taking anything for granted when it hosts Moe, a side more than capable of an upset.
“Absolutely, if we turn up with the same mindset as we did against Wonthaggi, we will have every chance,” said Lions coach Adrian Burgiel.
Having won its past nine encounters with the Lions, the Parrots have had the upper hand in recent years.
“It’s going to be tough for sure, but most of our players have had the week off,” said Burgiel, Including James Blaser who was a late withdrawal from the interleague team.
“Look he just needed a rest, he pulled up sore after the game last week and decided to pull out Tuesday night,” Burgiel said.
One and five after six rounds, Bairnsdale is feeling the pressure.
On Saturday it will face the reigning premier, which is also coming off a loss, at the hands of Drouin.
Despite dominating the compeititon in recent years, the Tigers have struggled on the Redlegs’ turf since its 2011 return to the competition.
On a high after hosting last weekend’s AFL Victoria Country Championship clash between the Gippsland League and the Yarra Valley.
Former VFL and Vic Country player Daniel Nicholls, coach turned interleague captain Bob McCallum, former AFL listed player Ben Hughes and youngster Luke Duffy all played their roles in the 71-point win.
On Saturday they’ll be part of the Hawks line up which hosts Wonthaggi on a surface which is at its best following the interleague clash.
“Whoever took care of it, we might get them to do it again cause it is probably the best I’ve seen it,” said Hawks coach Bob McCallum.
In fifth, Drouin will be eager to upset the second placed Power.
And the odds are with Wonthaggi, with statistics showing seven of the past 10 encounters these teams were won by the visiting team.
The Power have won on four of their past five visits to Drouin, with the exception back in 2010.
Sale will be vying to make its way back up the Gippsland League ladder when it returns home to host Warragul.
The Magpies are coming off a good win on the road against Bairnsdale.
Magpies coach Travis Ronaldson was left reeling after two of his stars, Jordan Dessent and Jack Lipman suffered injuries during last weekend’s interleague clash.
“It’s a little bit disappointing. In a perfect world, they wouldn’t have played and in hindsight perhaps we bore too much of the risk, with six or seven guys playing, at a time when we are down the second half of the ladder,” Ronaldson said.
With consecutive wins before the break, Sale will be looking to pick up from where it left off.
“No doubt. Coming off a couple of wins leading in, we need to keep up the momentum. After tough draw to start with we are hoping to get a few wins through the middle period to give us an opportunity later in the season,” he said,
In the past, Sale hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Gulls, with the visitor winning there just once in its past 10 visits.
Last Modified on 29/05/2015 11:58