By: Lachlan SHIRLEY

THE Geelong Region Men’s Division 1 competition returns to action this week after the Queen’s Birthday weekend break. Round 8 will kick off on Friday night (tonight) at Banyul Warri Reserve, with Surf Coast taking on 2^nd placed Surfside Waves.

PHOTO: Rangers’ sharpshooter Darren McCallum has scored 11 goals in seven games and leads the Div 1 Goalscorers’ tally. He will be in action for Rangers against Drysdale on Sunday (photo: K-Van Photography)

In recent weeks Surf Coast has been in good form, winning its last three consecutive games. Back in round four, Surf Coast was still yet to put any points on the table but have since improved significantly and have moved up to 7^th spot on the 10 team table.

Surfside, meanwhile, has won its last three games and currently sits 2^nd on the current standings. A win for Surf Coast would prove to be extremely valuable as only three points separate them from 3^rd.

Also on Friday night, the bottom two teams will face off against each other at Village Park in Barwon Heads. At the moment, Breakwater occupies last position with just one point. Barwon Heads are only three points ahead and have a -29-goal difference compared to the Eagles -22, so a win for Breakwater would see them overtake the Hammerheads.

On Sunday at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, third placed Deakin Ducks will host 8^th place Lara United. Only three points separate the 3^rd and 8^th placed teams in a tight race for mid table supremacy United is on equal points with Surf Coast, with only goal difference separating the two sides. The Ducks, meanwhile, are only three points behind 2^nd placed Surfside.

At the Drysdale Sporting Precinct, Drysdale will be faced with a tough task when it hosts the so far faultless Geelong Rangers on Sunday. Rangers are yet to drop any points this season and currently sit first with 21 points. Drysdale are 11 points behind Rangers and currently sit in 5^th position on the table.

In the final game of the round, Barwon SC will host Corio at Grovedale Reserve. Corio is only one point in front of Barwon so a win for Barwon would see the Blue and Whites move up the table to at least 5^th position and - depending on Drysdale’s result - possibly as high as 4^th spot.

Corio will be hoping to come back from its 0-3 defeat at the hands of Rangers in Round 7. In recent weeks, Corio has won one and lost two of its last three games.

Lachlan Shirley is a young SEDA student, currently doing work experience with FFV Geelong. He will be compiling regular weekly reports on the Geelong Region Men’s and Women’s Division 1 competitions.