ROUND 7 PREVIEW
By Chris Weaver
Saturday, 23 May
Box Hill Hawks (3-2) v Frankston (0-6)
Last Time: Round 11, 2008 at Frankston Park - Box Hill Hawks 10.9 (69) def Frankston 9.8 (62)
Box Hill City Oval, 1.10 pm (ABC TV; 3WBC 94.1 FM)
It must be getting tedious for Shannon Grant.
Every week we hear another tale of a brave performance. Yet that is small comfort for a side that cannot win.
A particularly bitter pill is the unavailability of both Marcus Marigliani and Paul Kennedy through injury. Both players were sensational in dragging Frankston back into the Round 5 game with Williamstown, yet both have succumbed to niggling soft tissue problems.
Box Hill finished strongly last week against the Casey Scorpions in what was from all reports an engrossing contest.
At home and playing against a significantly reduced midfield, the Hawks should repeat their Eastlink Cup success from last year.
Tip: Box Hill by 40 points
Williamstown (5-0) v Port Melbourne (4-1)
Last Time: 2nd Preliminary Final, 2008 at TEAC Oval - Port Melbourne 16.21 (117) def Williamstown 13.18 (96)
Burbank Oval, 2.00 pm (Casey Radio 3SER 97.7 FM)
New life was breathed into the competition's longest and most fabled rivalry last year by the stunning rise of the Borough.
Brad Gotch's Seagulls openly admit to being motivated by the stinging loss of three consecutive Preliminary Finals, of which last year's was the most bitter - four goals up at three-quarter time, Williamstown lost their run and hardness after half-time to lose to a Borough side kicking into the wind in the final term.
Williamstown have myriad avenues to goal, their versatility highlighted by having fourteen individual goal-kickers against Bendigo.
Patrick Rose and Matthew Little have each managed a six goal haul during the last fortnight and are hard to match up on due to their agility and good overhead marking.
Expect to see some dash from Port Melbourne in defence, as Stephen Brewer, Sam Pleming and Patrick Hassett look to continue their current form.
Versatile and hard-running, the Seagulls should however just pip their arch enemies.
Tip: Williamstown by 6 points
Sunday, 24 May
Werribee Tigers (2-3) v Northern Bullants (4-1)
Last Time: Round 5, 2008 at Visy Park - Werribee Tigers 15.13 (103) def Northern Bullants 12.15 (87)
Chirnside Park, 2.00 pm (Casey Radio 3SER 97.7FM)
Few teams play well when their best avenue to goal is missing, and such is the case with the Werribee Tigers.
With Nathan Thompson missing due to a corrective heart procedure, the Tigers struggled to straighten up last week.
Thompson is missing again this week, which is especially a pity for Werribee considering that they play a Bullants side containing just one real stopper in Jason Saddington.
For the Bullants, last week's bye may have come at the wrong time. David Teague's side were playing the best footy seen at the club since late in the 2006 season, when the boys from Cramer Street won the minor premiership.
With AFL affiliate Carlton retaining the smart running and clever link play of Richard Hadley and Mitch Robinson, this is a differently structured Northern Bullants outfit from that seen before the break.
Retaining their strong rebound from defence and an ever-willing midfield, this could be the game that sees Werribee get back on track.
Tip: Werribee by 14 points
North Ballarat (4-1) v Casey Scorpions (2-3)
Last Time: Round 17, 2008 at Casey Fields - North Ballarat 10.8 (68) def Casey Scorpions 7.12 (54)
Eastern Oval, 2.00 pm
Infuriatingly for the Roosters, their long-awaited comeback to Eureka Stadium is again put on hold as they entertain Casey in front of the picturesque Eastern Oval.
North Ballarat put on a consummate display last week, extending their lead at every change against Geelong and not being unduly concerned by the Cats' over-reliance on James Podsiadly.
Their strong bodies in the middle could prove too much for Casey as the game progresses, Myles Sewell, Brett Goodes and Stephen Clifton battering away relentlessly at the stoppages.
The Scorpions were a tired and jaded outfit late in the game against Box Hill, some younger players already starting to feel the pinch of a long season in senior footy.
The Roosters are always tough to beat at home - even when, as Bendigo discovered two weeks ago, they are not really "at home".
Tip: North Ballarat by 35 points
Bendigo Bombers (0-5) v Coburg Tigers (3-2)
Last Time: Round 20, 2008 at Windy Hill - Coburg Tigers 20.19 (139) def Bendigo Bombers 5.7 (37)
Queen Elizabeth Oval, 2.00 pm
Sad as it is to say, there are few positives about Bendigo at the moment.
One thing is in their favour, though - they are unlikely to get belted in the same manner as occurred last week, when the seniors (101 points) and reserves (198 points) were both tonked by Williamstown.
For all their ills, the Bombers this week have named an impressive looking spine - Michael Hurley, David Myers, Brent Prismall, Darcy Daniher and Scott Lucas. With Kyle Reimers also returning from injury this is "on paper" as strong a side as we are likely to see from Bendigo.
Coburg last week overcame Collingwood in a dreadfully error-filled contest. The Burgers will hope to retain Jack Riewoldt, impressive both in the air and at ground level as he booted 6.3.
One notable omission is tall defender Jason Morgan, still struggling with the after effects of a badly broken leg received in the 2007 Qualifying Final.
It is hard to see Bendigo getting up this week, but easy to hope for an improved performance as they should push Coburg all the way.
Tip: Coburg by 22 points
Sandringham (3-3) v Geelong (1-4)
Last Time: Round 17, 2008 at Trevor Barker Beach Oval - Geelong 11.12 (78) def Sandringham 9.13 (67)
Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 2.00 pm (livevfl.com.au)
Watching Nick Sautner this season is a bit like visiting a jovial grandparent - you should enjoy the experience while you can.
Having missed just one game with a calf strain, Sautner was back to his best last week as he nailed seven goals against Werribee.
The Zebras' versatility is best exemplified by Matt Maguire, the St Kilda-listed utility kicking five goals only weeks after he was serving his side deep in defence.
Still very raw, it is hard to see Geelong matching their opponents anywhere outside the forward 50. James Podsiadly and Tom Lonergan look too strong for a Sandringham defence lacking any real "gorillas", but much will depend on how often the ball comes down their way.
With strength on every line and aided by a strong VFL nucleus, Sandringham should run out victors here.
Tip: Sandringham by 27 points
Bye - Collingwood
Listen to Chris Weaver and Casey 3SER 97.7FM's call of the Match of the Day Sunday between Werribee Tigers and Northern Bullants live from Chirnside Park or online at www.3ser.org.au
Last Modified on 22/05/2009 14:47