Round 15 and the curtain falls for the Bombers and Magpies at around 5pm. They will want to finish their season with pride, while the finals participants will look to hone their strategies in the hope of silverware success in a months time.
Western Districts v Wirrulla at Minnipa
Plenty to play for here, the old stagers of Minnipa return for a weekend of nostalgia and reminiscing, 100 years of football in Minnipa. The current day Tigers still have business to do in 2017, they will finish third no matter what happens, but would love a good showing in front of a large crowd. The Bombers find themselves out of contention now! They have played good football along the way, perhaps not as consistently as they would have wished, but they always match up well against the Tigers, they would love nothing better than to be the ones to blow out the 100 candles on Saturday afternoon!
Look out for the heritage blue guernsey with the golden eagle as Minnipa FC returns circa 60s and 70s. Tigers have built their season around discipline and work ethic. Fingers Feltus may play until he is 100 himself, and by then he will have 30 to 40 Mail Medals, such is his ongoing great form! Shannon Horgan is welcome back after a brief injury layoff, another enjoying a great season, covering enormous territory. Forward line is generally functioning well, and they must look to ongoing improvement here, Jack Shanley a focal point, along with Chubba Brands, Tommy Lee , and emerging champion Josh Horgan. Like the mid field grunt of Brodie Falciani and Kade Gill, with the leg speed of Charlie Williams, up back Sam Beare, Joe Williams,Thomas Cash and Ken Newcombe are in outstanding form.
Bombers have struggled for key injuries in the latter part of the season, when they are at full strength they will challenge anyone, but find themselves limping to seasons end. Ryan Watson has enjoyed a stellar season, missed a couple of games but must be well up in the club B and F. Simon Webb as reliable as ever. Good having Rowan Chester back in the side, great talent and plays anywhere. Good seasons by Rob Holmes, Shane Pittaway and Jai Holmes. Young players back at college now also. Big Will Mayhew has been fantastic each time he has played, a true hard nut defender with a big heart.
Both of these teams like the defensive style games, so no shoot out expected. So often games are decided by a goal or less between the Bombers and Tigers, with home ground not holding much advantage here either. Perhaps the Tigers in front of their expectant supporters and following a big build up.
Tigers 10 – 20
Elliston v Wudinna United at Elliston
Elliston are in play off mode, their side has developed as the season progressed, their final home hit out in front of the Rooster faithful, all road trips from here this year! Magpies just another narrow loss last week, more scoring shots but have just found themselves short in key moments. They are capable but just haven’t had any luck!
Expect the Roosters to be at full noise now, Jay Williams, Ben and Adam Hurrell, Brody Kenny, Guy Hutchison, Liam Newton, Ross Bascomb, Del Miller, Tom Rumbelow headline a team with that little X factor that may surprise a few. Love the enthusiasm of Brad Fisk, very effective in between little enforced 10 minute spells on the pine. Break out year for Gorn Tree, who has grown in confidence throught out, similarly with Matt Reeves, who is well developing as an A Grade key big man presence. Dylan Williams has been great all year and the re emergence of Glen Tonkin provide forward line bite. Last outing at this venue saw a Rooster romp 30 plus goal win, reminiscent of the halcyon days of late nineties and early 00’s rampaging Rooster sides.
The Maggies wont go quietly here though, they will know that so many close games falling the other way would have seen them in the Roosters current finals position. Big X Scott has been great at the goal mouth, and Bronte Ingomar is set for a huge future. Jack Lange and Brett Watkinson are leading the Magpie best week in and week out, looming large here. Darryl Marshall alternating between key forward and back roles always effective. Remi North and Neil Seamon enjoy the Elliston venue and are likely to rack up big numbers, Fink North another who comes off of a great year, rucking roving and hard to stop. Former Rooster Tyson Tree will be looking for another big one and Tommy Dupree, Adam Jericho capping of excellent development years for themselves.
Don’t expect this to be easy, but the Roosters still have business this year and must roll out their best here and now to be ready for things to come.
Roosters 30 - 40
West Coast Hawks v Central Eyre at Streaky Bay
Normally this is the headline match of the round/ week/ season and probably deserves to be again, but we get the feeling that there will be plenty more opportunity to look at these two in 2017, the stakes will just get higher from here on. In fact for one of these sides, it may be the start of three straight matches against the other (Roosters and Tigers may think otherwise in the Preliminary Final).
So the unbeaten Hawks at fortress Streaky Bay, last time they lost here was 4 June 2016, that was against the ‘dogs. Plenty of footy played since then. Hawks hold the ledger at 2/0 this year and aiming to sweep the minor round this week, who better to do it against but their old foe from the Centre of the Eyre Peninsula!
The Hawks find themselves at full concentration now, the business end of the season. Dylan Kelsh leading the ruck with aplomb, Cam Montgomerie, Jake Mc Evoy and Mark Dolling in devastating form around the centre, league leading goal kicker Aiden Whitford the first target, and plenty at his feet. Hardworking defensive unit, Tyson Montgomerie, Kirk Montgomerie, Scott Montgomerie, Derick Freeman all seasoned campaigners. Nick Schumann loves the challenge of the ‘dogs, expect at least four goals from his wing! A host of skill with young fit talent everywhere.
Can the Bulldogs lift back to their best. Great having their big guns fit and firing again, Zac and Tasman Fitzgerald, Jesse Stringer, Jake and Jared Sampson, Jake Bruce. Hayden Heath another who has been prolific all year. Clint Winter back last week and adds goal sense and poise to the team, Brett Mc Comb and Ty Mc Kenna effective big men, will Keenan Bury front back in the A Grade this week after a year of soreness? So many skills at the club and with the ‘dogs aerial strength, the Hawks will be stretched.
At their best, both of these two teams play a fast play on style, but they both know mistakes against this opposition costs big time, so expect some caution here, perhaps a tighter more possession based game.
Still like the Hawks on their own deck, but not with a big amount of confidence, the gap has narrowed and Centrals will be keen to re assert themselves!
Hawks 10-20
Last Modified on 10/08/2017 19:06