Saturday pits two teams coming off impressive round 10 victories, the Northern blues wrapping up a 56-point win over Frankston while Williamstown finished off Essendon to the tune of 55 points.
Both teams sit comfortably in the top eight with Williamstown in fifth on 24 points while the Blues seventh on 20 points. The weekends match-up is set to be a close game with both teams hard to separate. Alexander McLeman previews the Visy Park round 11 Peter Jackson VFL contest.
Williamstown travels into Saturday’s match on a high following their round 10 dismantling of the Bombers in a one sided 55 point win following on from a bye in round 9 and a loss to Port Melbourne in round 8. Williamstown has been playing some consistent and solid footy this season notching up victories against Essendon (R10), Coburg (R2), Werribee (R3), Collingwood (R5), Frankston (R6) and Bendigo (R7). The team has utilized its play-makers well with multiple goal scorers over the course of the season with the likes of Lachlan Hunter, 3 goals against the Bombers, Mitchell Wallis, 3 goals against the Bombers, with Jarrad Grant, Willie Wheeler and Dylan Conway all slotting home 2 goals against the Bombers. Williamstown have threats all over the park and can easily notch-up 25-35 point quarters without even breaking a sweat. The Blues will be well versed on the distribution of skill and power in the Williamstown team but with such a deeply talented team Visy Park could well see a high scoring match they don’t want to see.
The Northern Blues come into Saturdays contest following an impressive win over Frankston, keeping them inside the top eight and closing the gap between the top four teams and the rest. The Blues have had an up-and-down season to date with some excellent displays of footy followed by poor showings which have stunted their progression and growth this season. The Blues are the epitome of a mid-table team they can shine against the likes of Werribee (R1, 15 point win), Bendigo (R2, 164 point win), Coburg (R3, 26 point win), North Ballarat (R6, 44 point win) and Frankston (R10, 56 point win) but when they face stiffer competition they seem to have struggled for four quarter consistency. Losses to Geelong (R9, 58 point loss), Collingwood (R8, 3 point loss), Sandringham (R5, 13 point loss) and Port Melbourne (R4, 16 point loss) have kept them stuck around the middle of the table dipping in and out of the top eight on a weekly basis. For the Blues to secure a top eight finish and enjoy finals footy they need to improve while learning how to maintain consistent football, do the basics right and slow down rampaging final quarter runs they seem to have allowed their opposition far too often.
The likes of Luke Mitchell, Kane Lambert and Dylan Buckley have shone over the early part of this season and have been the life blood of the Blues team and will be the key this weekend along with talented youngster Troy Menzel who will feature this weekend for the Blues adding some extra spice which could tip the odds in the home sides favor. The Blues will be counting on their game breakers to perform on Saturday with a win making sure they start to form a gap between themselves and the chasing pack.
Venue.
Visy Park
First Bounce.
2:00pm
Conditions.
The weather is scheduled to be dry but bitterly cold with an early morning frost to cover the city. Visy Park will provide shelter from the cold winds but spectators are advised to wrap-up warm for the afternoon match-up.
Prediction.
Northern Blues by 5.
Last Modified on 21/06/2013 15:51