Entering the 2018 season few would have picked the trifecta of Nyora, Longwarry and Ellinbank to be in the top three on the ladder after five rounds. Nyora is the only undefeated team while Neerim South is the only team yet to open their winning account. This week’s match of the day will pit Longwarry against Nyora – two teams to have emerged as viable finals prospects.
Longwarry v Nyora
Nyora will be out to strike while the iron is hot. With an inspirational last few minutes last Saturday it conjured three goals to overturn a 10-point deficit and win by eight points against the Dusties. Perhaps the Saints best victory since it beat Catani in the 2007 grand final. The return to the club over the last two seasons of Sam Burns, Kallon Rigby, Ben Hallas and IIan Osman has played a big part in their revival. The improvement of Longwarry is largely due to some good recruiting over summer with Russell Lehman, Danny Wells and ruckman Nick Redley all consistent this season and ably supported by Corey Lenders who has returned to his best after an injury plagued 2017. At home the Crows to pip the Saints in a tight finish.
Nilma Darnum v Catani
Drawing upon observations and form this season this shapes as close contest. Both teams will enter the game with three victories. The Saints would have been pleased with the return of Luke Bartlett last week who kicked three goals and gave them a target while Ben Campbell is always busy around the packs and there has been a lot to like about East Burwood recruit Dan Telling. Catani have shown nothing like their 2017 form. If not for quality and output of its EDFL interleague representatives Paul Pattison, Nick Visser and key defender Dale Johnson it could quite conceivably only have one win – because it was pushed all the way by Poowong and Buln Buln. This game could go either way but the extra class and experience of the Blues should see them return home with the four match points.
Buln Buln v Ellinbank
The Lyrebirds will square off against the Eagles. Six times in its last nine games Buln Buln have featured in a match that has been decided by six points or less. Unfortunately, it has only won two of them. On the plus side it boasts many youngsters led by defender Tom Axford, Jake Pierrehumbert, Ryan Bishop and Brandon Allen who have all impressed this season. Ellinbank is well placed on the ladder with four victories but has been far from convincing. Banker fans will be happy plucky small Shaun Phelan returned to his best last week and they must also be impressed with the form of Doveton recruit and ruck Frank D’Agostino and the consistency of Ash Wallace who now has well over 200 games under his belt. The popular perception is an Ellinbank victory.
Lang Lang v Poowong
The winner will stay in touch with the top five. Poowong recorded its first victory last week with a hard-fought victory over Nilma Darnum and a well-deserved win after playing some good football over the opening month of the season. Cranbourne recruit Jayden Sullivan has added good resistance and rebound down back, Jai Newcombe has stamped himself as a player of the future and last week Devon Meadows recruit James Doria notched three goals to suggest he will be handy acquisition around the big sticks. Aside from one victory over Neerim South the Tigers have had little to cheer about but insiders must be pleased with the form of its recruits Brett Coghill, Jason Smith, Travis Kitchen and Aiden Nooy who have also shown a fair bit. Poowong to make it two wins in a row for the first time since rounds eight & nine in the 2011 year.
Warragul Industrials v Neerim South
The Dusties stumbled at the post last week but this week’s assignment looks far easier. It’s opponents the Cats have yet to chalk up a win. It is worth noting that the Warragul side in 2018 is very much a new side – last Saturday it only fielded eight players that played in its 2017 grand final team. Interestingly for Neerim its coach Nick Humphrey put the boots on again last week and offered a strong contribution. The Dusties to win comfortably.
SELECTIONS
LONGWARRY v Nyora
Nilma Darnum v CATANI
Buln Buln v ELLINBANK
Lang Lang v POOWONG
DUSTIES v Neerim South
Last Modified on 09/05/2018 10:36
