29 June 2017
After this week, each team will have played each other at home and away. We round the last bend on the minor round track, with a week break for Kinlough and State Championships, then the straight stretch to the finals.
The Dogs are under serious siege in their premiership defence, Hawks taking all before them in 2017, can they maintain the rage?, Tigers look a likely challenger, play great footy at their best, can they keep their scoring rate up?, Roosters on paper can produce a magnificent team, but injuries and unavailability are taking a toll, have they time to gather the troops for a genuine finals rally?, Bombers have the door ajar to join the finals race, simply a matter of win/loss against the other challengers. Magpies have been close so often, and a heartbreaking five point loss last week, taking the mighty Hawks to two points earlier in the season, oh what might have been?
Central Eyre v West Coast Hawks at Warramboo
Ladder leading Hawks and Dogs at it again. For the past four years of their intense league leading rivalry, these two have faced off twenty one times, (thirteen minor rounds and eight finals). The ledger stands at
(2013 to 2017 incl) Central Eyre Won West Coast Hawks Won
Head to Head Minor Round Matches 6 7
Head to Head Finals Matches 4 4
Premierships 2 2
This has developed into one of the most intense rivalries seen in Mid West, no doubt deep down a level of respect for each other, but relations not always at a mates level! Hawks undefeated in the minor round season 2015, Dogs undefeated in the season 2016, Hawks undefeated so far season 2017.
Home ground advantage to Central’s this time around, 2016 premiership here, but wondering whether the larger Warramboo oval may now better suit the fleet footed West Coasters!
Centrals will not be full strength this outing, likely outs of Zac and Tasman Fitzgerald, Jake Bruce, Tyler Chapman, injury concern with Kane Sampson, but he is likely to play. Depth is tested! The likes of Jesse Stringer, classy captain Jake Sampson, Mail Medallist Jared Sampson loom as threats to the Hawks, Hayden Heath likely to be the main target at centre half forward, Clint Winter’s goal kicking prowess will be needed. Brett Mc Comb is welcomed backed to the club, his around the ground marking is vital.
West Coast Hawks have a few concerns also, Braden Holmes off with a should last week and unlikely, speedster Jake Mc Evoy injured Dillon Cabot out for the year with another knee. Notwithstanding, the Hawks have plenty of depth and youth on their side. Dylan Kelsh is in exceptional form, the spectacular Cam Montgomerie launching himself skyward regularly coming down with the leather balloon, Aiden Whitford in prolific touch. A fast rebounding defence makes for difficult scoring against, Tyson and Kirk Mortgomerie, Derick Freeman are astute seasoned campaigners.
Hawks will start this match as warm favourites by virtue of a weakened dogs at the kennel, and must keep a level of ascendancy in the run in to finals, Centrals are a dangerous team and will be back to strength soon enough, plenty to play in this season yet. Hawks can all but sew up a top spot here.
Hawks 30 to 40
Wirrulla v Western Districts at Wirrulla
The Bombers took this match out in round five by eighteen points at the Tigers Lair, but throw the form guide out whenever these two meet, they just challenge each other where ever they sit on the ladder and whatever their prior form is. Tigers have looked the most likely to challenge the top two, but fallen in key matches, while the Bombers can see a finals door ajar in front of them, guarded by the Tigers and Roosters. While a loss is not the end of the world for either, a win really assists the cause!
Bombers have improved as the season progresses, players getting back to the side and learning the Mini Lawrie game style. Jason Henderson, Rob Holmes, Willy Mayhew, Rowan Chester amongst those with interrupted seasons, and now producing great footy, add the emergence of evergreen Dion Pittaway, Andrew Bitmead, a Yanni Kozminski soon to be back in the mix, and suddenly these Bombers will rattle the cages of those above. Ryan Watson must be high in the best and fairest count, Simon Webb back at his skilful best.
The Tigers possess a well balanced team, one of the more settled in the League. Jack Shanley is straightening up forward moves that have been wonky in the past. Scott Feltus and Shannon Horgan again high in the best, but they now have help. Charlie Williams has settled back to the fold, Riley King, Brodie Falciani, Zane Montgomerie regularly leading the way, Thomas Lee, Joseph Williams and Sam Beare winning key defensive roles, and young guns Josh Horgan and Steve Brands providing promise of things to come.
Always hard to pick a winner and incentive aplenty this match. Can the Tigers reproduce a running higher risk match plan or will they revert to their comfortable higher possession style? Who will kick the goals for the Bombers? Plenty of ball will go forward! While the Bombers got the chocolates at the last start, the Tigers to narrowly bounce back here.
Tigers 1- 10
Wudinna United v Elliston at Wudinna
Agony for the Maggies again last week, bad kicking saw a narrow loss again, maybe just the last roll of the finals dice this week. This aspect no doubt not lost on the Roosters whose finals spot is the one that may be in jeopardy? Roosters are maybe not the most renown of travellers, but expect all available to be front and centre for a game this important.
Magpies are settling into a game style that wins the hard ball and forces it forward quickly. Old stagers Henry Zwar and Xavier Smith-Scott are great targets Young Tom Dupree pulling down plenty from above and Adam Jericho’s speed and agility. New players Brett Watkinson, Jack Lange, Billy Campbell, Bronte Ingomar have fitted in well, poise with Dallas Waters and Neil Seaman, Mark North leading the rucks giving regular first use to onballers Matt Greatbatch and Remi North.
Elliston will see this as a must win and have a core unit that equals the League’s best. Ross Bascomb, Guy Hutchison, Adam Hurrell, Del Miller, Steve Paul, Tom Rumbelow, Liam Newton. These blokes head the best week in and week out. Missing will be Matt (Biccie) Bascomb, down with an ankle last week, young Ree Martin, also an ankle. Will this be the re emergence of Jordan Newton? Energetic Brad Fisk loves the contest and brings team mates in.
Big game to set up the Roosters finals aspirations, they cant drop this as the Bombers are circling and want the Roosters spot! Wudinna United may well spoil the best laid Rooster plans!
Roosters 10 -20
Last Modified on 30/06/2017 09:46