ROUND 4 PREVIEW
Saturday, 2 May
Coburg Tigers (2-1) v Casey Scorpions (1-2)
Last Time: Round 19, 2008 at Casey Fields - Coburg 14.5 (89) def Casey Scorpions 13.10 (88)
ABD Group Stadium, 1.10 pm (ABC TV)
All eyes are likely to centre on two players set to appear in their first VFL senior games - Ben Cousins and Jack Watts.
Cousins has missed four weeks of football with a torn hamstring and his return aides a Coburg side in which Andrew Raines and Trent Cotchin are also aiming to return to AFL fitness.
Watts meanwhile has appeared in the Scorpions' reserve side over the past fortnight, spending time in both attack and defence as he begins his transition into senior footy.
The Burgers are likely to boast sixteen AFL listed players in their starting XVIII, depth that will be hard for the Scorpions to overcome away from home.
Tip: Coburg by 25 points
Williamstown (2-0) v Sandringham (2-1)
Last Time: Round 14, 2008 at Trevor Barker Oval - Williamstown 18.11 (119) def Sandringham 15.15 (105)
Burbank Oval, 2.00 pm
We can only hope that the conditions at Point Gellibrand this week are more conducive to a skilful game.
As occurred at Frankston and Sandringham, strong winds hampered last week's contest between the Seagulls and Werribee - although kudos to Williamstown for adapting to the conditions better.
With Ben McEvoy acceding to the St Kilda AFL side, it is a chance for gangly Zebra ruckman Rhys Stanley to show his wares against Williamstown's Ayce Cordy - another raw talent who has already exhibited some classy flourishes this year.
Although it is still early days, both sides look likely premiership contenders and have plenty of run and experience in midfield.
Neutrals will hope to see opposing captains Peter Summers (Sandringham) and Brett Johnson (Williamstown) match each other in the centre - two of the best stand-alone talents in the VFL.
Tip: Williamstown by 14 points
Collingwood (2-1) v North Ballarat (1-1)
Last Time: Round 14, 2008 at Visy Park - North Ballarat 19.11 (125) def Collingwood 6.10 (46)
Visy Park, 2.00 pm (Casey Radio 3SER, 97.7 FM)
Not many would have predicted the Pies to be 2-1 after three matches, but it is unlikely that they will have a positive win-loss ratio after this clash.
Wins against the competition's two other non-Melbourne sides have been a fillip for Gavin Brown's side, but they come up against stiffer opposition this week.
North Ballarat's victory in the westerly gale at Trevor Barker Oval last Sunday was a victory for the tough, accountable football of which their coach Gerard FitzGerald is so fond.
Although stretched by a tall Collingwood forward line, bigger and stronger bodies in midfield should allow the Roosters to have consistent first use of the footy.
This game was originally scheduled for the newly renovated and resurfaced Eureka Stadium, but was switched to Visy Park last week. It is unlikely to bother the Roosters unduly.
Tip: North Ballarat by 35 points
Port Melbourne (2-1) v Geelong (0-2)
Last Time: Round 18, 2008 at Skilled Stadium - Port Melbourne 22.13 (145) def Geelong 7.12 (54)
TEAC Oval, 2.00 pm
Having been devastatingly effective against North Ballarat in Round 1, Port Melbourne has since flattered to deceive.
Geelong meanwhile has simply struggled, away trips to Visy Park and Coburg leaving the Cats with many wounds to lick.
Both sides are top heavy, as the Cats feature a front six featuring four players over 193 cm tall, and the Borough select both Deluca brothers for the first time together.
Port Melbourne will require more from their starting on-ballers than they have so far exhibited; John Baird and David Robbins in particular down on their 2008 form.
While this game could be ripe for an upset, it is always hard to go past the Borough when they play at home.
Tip: Port Melbourne by 12 points
Sunday, 3 May
Werribee (1-1) v Box Hill Hawks (2-0)
Last Time: Round 18, 2008 at Chirnside Park - Werribee 18.9 (117) def Box Hill 7.15 (57)
Chirnside Park, 2.00 pm (3WBC, 94.1 FM)
Box Hill fans are currently dusting off their Savage Garden CDs and cargo pants, as their club returned to 1998 last week against Coburg.
That was the last time Marco Bello played for the then-Mustangs, before his current stint at the club.
Now a development coach at the Box Hill City Oval, 32 year-old Bello was best-on-ground on ANZAC Day.
This week they travel to play a Werribee side smarting from a pedestrian performance against Williamstown.
Expected to bounce back at home, Werribee possess a strong midfield line-up comprising Dom Gleeson, Robbie Castello and Michael Rockefeller.
Aided by Alan Obst, Marty Pask and Nathan Thompson up forward, some good delivery from the centre should see Werribee over the line.
Tip: Werribee by 23 points
Northern Bullants (2-1) v Frankston (0-3)
Last Time: Round 1, 2008 at Frankston Park - Frankston 14.13 (97) def Northern Bullants 11.15 (81)
Visy Park, 2.00 pm (Casey Radio 3SER, 97.7 FM; livevfl.com.au)
For three quarters, it was hard to get a handle on Frankston's performance at home last Sunday. But the last quarter fadeout with the breeze told its own story, and a sick and sorry Dolphins side was comfortably beaten by the Casey Scorpions.
This week they welcome back Clinton Proctor and Byron Barry from concussions received in the Round 2 loss to Sandringham, while Marcus Marigliani appears to have overcome a suspected thumb injury.
David Teague's Bullants were superb against Port Melbourne, appearing hungrier for the footy than their opponents.
Running the footy well off the wings and half-back, players such as Jarrod McCorkell, Richard Hadley and Adam Iacobucci will be hard to stop.
Fitness has been an issue for the Dolphins, and as the game progresses we can expect the Bullants to heavily rotate their run-and-carry types in order to expose the gulf in conditioning between the sides.
Tip: Northern Bullants by 30 points
Bye - Bendigo Bombers
Join Chris Weaver for the Casey 3SER 97.7FM call of VFL matches this weekend.
Last Modified on 01/05/2009 13:29