Game 1: Inverell Saints v Narrabri Eagles
This game is one where The Drum expects the gulf between the top three this year to become apparent. The Eagles did well to pop through seventeen straight ones against the Dogs last week on a wet Leitch Oval, and will head east with some confidence on top of that effort. With Cooper in the side they are a different unit, and with a reliable goal kicker being fed by Barrow and Shawcross one would expect the Eagles to kick more than a ton. This may be seen to present a challenge to the Saints after last week, who managed just four goals from sixteen scoring efforts on a nice winter's afternoon in Armidale. The Saints are better than that and will be stinging from the defeat, and this was pretty much the first time all year they had been wasteful inside the attacking arc. A cranky Saints at Varley is not a welcoming proposition, and whilst there is much to like about the Eagles this year, this will be curtains for them.
The Drum: Saints by five goals.
Game 2: Tamworth Kangaroos v New England Nomads
The years' two best performers meet for the third time at Number One Oval. The Nomads backed up a disappointing loss to the Kangaroos in Gunnedah a fortnight ago with a strong win against the Saints in ordinary conditions last week. They welcomed back some useful types for that match, and big Rossco can be added to the list here this week. The Drum thinks they will be confident with how they line up at full strength against the smaller, mobile Roos. After spending last week sipping pina coladas on the sandy banks of the Peel, the Kangaroos will be keen to launch themselves into this one and secure themselves a home grand final. Neither side wants for quality, and neither will want for motivation. This will be a cracking match and what September football is about. The Drum can't wait and is wary of the well performing Kangaroos, but also is a fan of the experienced and bolstered Nomads. In the end, The Drum is for the visitors, more because Fridge has gone the other way and ground needs to be made up than any in depth and intelligent analysis.
The Drum: Nomads by less than one straight kick.
Last Modified on 01/09/2011 21:13