AVENEL V TALLYGAROOPNA
Tallygaroopna will be looking to rebound from its only defeat this season when it makes the trip down the highway to take on last year’s runner-up.
It is not crisis yet for last year’s runner-up, but the Swans will be desperate to break through for their first win of 2017 after starting with four straight losses.
The Swans showed grit and character to push neighbour Violet Town the distance during the last round of matches while the Redlegs’ were exceptional after quarter time against last year’s premier.
Assistant coach Tyson Sidebottom said the team will need to start well against Avenel and avoid a repeat of last round’s terrible first quarter.
“You just can’t give good sides that sort of head-start and expect to win,” he said.
Avenel will go into this game, with the likes of Michael Morgan, Kasey Duncan, Don Stirling and Chris Burton in really good form, after playing starring roles in the league’s win over the Golden Rivers last weekend.
This game will be tight and I think the Swans will be the more desperate to get the four points.
Tallygaroopna is still likely to be down a couple of troops who got injured during the win against Murchison-Toolamba.
Tip: Avenel.
STANHOPE v VIOLET TOWN
This is shaping up to be one of the games of the season. Violet Town remains the only undefeated team while Stanhope has only lost to last year’s premier.
Sean Horsburgh has his team firing on all cylinders while Brenton Gray’s men have been equally as good this season.
The battle of the midfield looms large in this game and whoever can get their hands on the footy first is likely to ensure their key forwards get the supply to kick a winning score.
Stanhope has Jack Exell in really good form having kicked 12 before the bye and five in the inter-league contest while Robert Staff kicked a bag in the win over Avenel and then against Golden Rivers at Murrabit last Saturday.
Violet Town scored arguably its best win since that famous win in 2012 when it defeated Nagambie a few weeks back and Horsburgh will be hoping his troops can repeat it today.
Tip: Stanhope.
MURCHISON-TOOLAMBA v LONGWOOD – SAY NO TO VIOLENCE FEATURE GAME
Murchison-Toolamba and Longwood will go head-to-head as they both look to break their duck.
Both have shown patches of their best during the opening five weeks of the season, without success.
The Redlegs’ will be hoping to welcome back a handful of key players who missed the match against Lancaster while Murchison-Toolamba will look to the likes of Ashton Cashion, James Milne and Darby Walsh.
Milne and Cashion were outstanding in the league’s victory over the Golden Rivers.
Since joining the club from Ardmona, Cashion has been outstanding.
He has been one of the shining lights for the Grasshoppers in their losses this season.
Tip: Murchison-Toolamba.
GIRGARRE v RUSHWORTH
This is going be a cracking contest between two teams who have been in good early season form.
Both of these teams are among a group that will be locked in a battle for the final two spots in the top six, with Violet Town, Nagambie, Stanhope and Tallygaroopna all likely to fill the top four on the ladder.
Matt Bartlett and Nick Mellington represented the league last weekend and contributed to the big win.
They will be looking to bring that form again today along with the likes of Shannon Tucker, Paul Parsons, Ashley Kirchhofer and Jake Hyland.
After a loss on the opening day, Rushworth has had three big wins, with the likes of Rob Osborne, Jeremy Lambden, Jason Hucker and Shane Lynch all leading the way for the Tigers.
Hucker knows this is a massive game in the context of their season and expectations on where they want to be at the end of the home and away season.
If they can get even contribution then he will be happy.
Tip: Girgarre.
LANCASTER v UNDERA
Lancaster will be out to make it two wins on the bounce when it hosts Undera. The Lions were well beaten last round while the Wombats proved too strong for the winless Longwood.
Coach Nick Bertoli will be demanding his troops stick to the game plan and not allow bad habits to creep into their games.
For Peter Cordy, he will be hoping his team can put together a much more competitive performance against a well-drilled Lancaster team.
He knows the team is going to have some tough quarters during the season and he will look to some of his more experienced boys to lead the way for the team’s youngsters.
Tip: Lancaster.
Last Modified on 17/05/2017 16:15