ROUND 13 PREVIEWS
By Chris Weaver
Saturday, 11 July
Casey Scorpions (6-5) v Frankston (1-10)
Last Time: Round 3, 2009 at Frankston Park – Casey Scorpions 14.12 (96) def Frankston 8.9 (57)
Casey Fields, 1.10 pm (ABC TV)
As good as they were last week, the Scorpions know that their dominance of the Bendigo Bombers will count for little.
Brad Miller’s expected elevation to the Melbourne side means a spot should open up in the Scorpions’ versatile forward line, while skipper Kyle Matthews returns to the side after a nagging leg injury.
Frankston’s lack of fitness was exploited by Collingwood last week, the Magpies kicking 12.11 in the second half.
It is likely to be a factor again this week, with the Scorpions set to select up to half a dozen players with more than five AFL pre-seasons behind them.
The news this week that Peder Whelan is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury grants Frankston youngsters Ben Crowe and Marc Westcott a chance to prove their worth in the ruck.
These are usually fierce encounters between the local rivals, but the Scorpions have an excellent record against the Dolphins in recent seasons – something likely to continue here.
Tip: Casey Scorpions by 34 points
Box Hill Hawks (6-5) v North Ballarat (9-1)
Last Time: Round 1, 2008 at Eureka Stadium – North Ballarat 19.12 (126) def Box Hill Hawks 8.8 (56)
Box Hill City Oval, 2.00 pm (3WBC, 94.1 FM)
Having been savaged by Port Melbourne in Round 1, North Ballarat responded brilliantly from a bye the following week – they won their next nine fixtures.
The Roosters will need to work hard to ensure that last week’s break does not ruin their momentum, as they face a Box Hill side coming off a shocking fortnight.
The narrow confines of Skilled Stadium did nothing to help the Hawks, whose wing play is better suited to the wider venues.
Although almost uniformly young, the Hawks need their AFL listed contingent to lift – only one of their eleven AFL listed participants in the Geelong game made into the side’s best players.
Cameron Pedersen’s bustling style should see him again share a portion of the ruck load, this week facing off against the gargantuan Orren Stephenson.
Tall down back and solid bodied on the footy, the Roosters should prove too strong as they look to physically intimidate their smaller, younger opponents.
Tip: North Ballarat by 18 points
Werribee Tigers (4-7) v Port Melbourne (7-3)
Last Time: First Qualifying Final, 2008 at TEAC Oval – Port Melbourne 20.10 (130) def Werribee Tigers 6.20 (56)
Chirnside Park, 2.00 pm (Casey Radio 3SER, 97.7 FM)
There were some signs last week from Port Melbourne that a harder edge is returning to their game.
The bulky Adrian Bonaddio looks more willing to crash the packs than he has recently, while Stephen Brewer provided some dash and Ryan McMahon shovelled clear from the stoppages.
The Borough will need to follow up with another away win here, in what has in recent seasons been a hard-fought and sometimes spiteful rivalry.
Speculation that Teghan Henderson would be returning to the Werribee side did not eventuate, as the Tigers continued to rely too much on too few against Williamstown.
If they are to break even from the middle, then Werribee need the solid bodies of Robbie Castello, Dom Gleeson, Michael Rockefeller and Matt Riggio to lift.
The Tigers appear too dependent on Nathan Thompson for their goals, with Marty Pask needing to provide a contest against the versatile builds of John Baird, Toby Pinwill and Jarrod Dalton.
Tip: Port Melbourne by 13 points
Sunday, 12 July
Williamstown (9-2) v Coburg Tigers (6-5)
Last Time: Round 15, 2008 at Burbank Oval – Coburg Tigers 16.14 (110) def Williamstown 13.14 (92)
Burbank Oval, 2.00 pm (livevfl.com.au)
There was a breakthrough win for Craig McRae last weekend against the Bullants, his first since replacing Jade Rawlings as Coburg coach.
Yet another tough task awaits the Tigers this week, with Williamstown appearing to have settled from their mini slump that occurred before the split round.
Coburg regains Jarrod Silvester in defence, but loses the very capable Alex Rance – a direct replacement for Silvester at AFL affiliate Richmond.
Solid and committed, Williamstown nailed sixteen goals after half-time in last weekend’s thumping win over Werribee.
Fed by stalwart ruckman Wayde Skipper, the Seagulls’ best on-ballers in Brett Johnson and Guy O’Keefe continue to dominate.
With such midfield dominance, it is hard to stop a player as quick on the lead as Matthew Little.
Capable of bringing teammates into the play through clever positioning and quick hands, the former Hawthorn forward’s career best form will place him in the eye of AFL recruiters.
Tip: Williamstown by 35 points
Bendigo Bombers (0-10) v Geelong (5-6)
Last Time: Round 10, 2008 at Queen Elizabeth Oval – Bendigo Bombers 16.21 (117) def Geelong 10.9 (69)
Windy Hill, 2.00 pm
Confirmation came through on Wednesday that there would be no more fixtures at the Queen Elizabeth Oval this season, the surface deemed unsatisfactory for VFL football.
The Bombers cannot take a trick at the moment and are even losing their better VFL listed players – Charles Slattery returning to South Australia because of work commitments, while Darren Hulme remains a week-by-week proposition as he nurses a groin injury.
It is an unpromising build-up for a side now nursing a sixteen game losing streak, and playing at the home of their AFL affiliate.
Geelong’s prospects are altogether rosier, sitting just one place outside the eight after last week’s victory at home against Box Hill.
Yet the Cats will lose promising defender Tom Gillies, the experienced David Wojcinski and forwards Ryan Gamble and Tom Lonergan.
They all fly to Brisbane this week, after the AFL side was forced to make a raft of changes from last week’s tense loss to St Kilda.
It is a chance for the lesser lights to shine, notably sturdy defender Matthew Firman and promising forward Jonathan Simpkin.
Tip: Geelong by 47 points
Sandringham (5-6) v Collingwood (6-5)
Last Time: Round 9, 2008 at Trevor Barker Beach Oval – Sandringham 11.13 (79) def Collingwood 6.13 (49)
Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 2.00 pm (Casey Radio 3SER, 97.7 FM)
Frustration mounted further for VFL tipsters last Saturday as Sandringham again exhibited their tendency to disappoint.
Nick Sautner’s six goal haul hides the fact that four came in the last term, with the game having well and truly passed the Zebras.
Simon Clarke is earning some good reviews, the young defender showing a willingness in the aerial contests that has eluded some of his more celebrated teammates recently.
He will need some support to stop the double act of Chris Dawes and Chris Bryan, again combining to kick a handy six goals for the Magpies at Frankston.
This is the first of two consecutive fixtures Collingwood will play at this venue, their home game against the Casey Scorpions having been moved from Victoria Park.
On the smallest playing surface in the competition the Magpies will need to show some fight for the contest, likely being led by solid VFL listed contributors in skipper Damien Peverill and Kris Pendlebury.
Tip: Sandringham by 9 points
Bye – Northern Bullants
Last Modified on 10/07/2009 11:09