Game 1: New England Nomads v Muswellbrook Cats
The Nomads were light on last week, but reports are they were efficient with their use of the nut against the Swans. They are a team that will build each week, and The Drum expects a return from new coach Tom Granleese which should give them a boost. Word about is that Tommy Walsh has been standing in fertiliser in the off season, and on permit lead the way for the Nomads in their first outing. He will enjoy the more open spaces back home this week. Whitby and Richards, the usual suspects, were also good last week and will similarly enjoy a bit more space. The Cats on the other hand secured their first opening round win since, well a while at least, and will be keen to keep the momentum rolling. The long trip to Armidale has proven a tough one for them in the past, but The Drum suspects there is a different feeling about the Cats this year and they are liable to travel at strength. They have some real speed and elusivenicity about their midfield, with a massive watch on young Beau Dixon, and if they have last year's height at full strength can push the Nomads in this. It is hard to read how both teams will line up, but with the long trip factored in and weighing against the Cats, the Nomads should put together four quarters good enough to get the choccies.
The Drum: Nomads by three goals.
Game 2: Tamworth Kangaroos v Tamworth Swans
Six months ago, you could have got shorter odds on the Giants winning this weekend than the Swans rolling the Kangaroos. Probably not so now. The Kangaroos would have been disappointed in their first week effort, and one would expect they had hit the training paddock with vengence to get ready for the first in the 2012 Billy Holder Cup series. The whispers are that the Kangaroos were much better than the scoreboard suggests, and being short on numbers on the road just ran out of legs. Hodge was nothing short of lethal last year, and him feeding Mitch Douglas is a frightening proposition. With plenty of support about, those around will be called on to stand up to prevent a 0-2 start in their Premiership defence. You'd be silly to suggest they won't. The Swans on the other hand have never held the Billy Holder Cup since it was started, and will be keen to put the blowtorch to their cross town rivals. They were not efficient inside fifty on the weekend, but from all reports dominated large tracts of that game and will go into this with confidence. Their midfield is their strength, and if Knee, Donohue and Wendt are on song they are tough to stop. This is a tough one to get a fix on, but The Drum just can't get his head around the yard stick being buried twice in a row.
The Drum: Kangaroos by two goals.
Game 3: Gunnedah Bulldogs v Inverell Saints
Sunday football is a bit of a curiousity locally, and The Drum will be curious to see how these two teams will take to Sunday football. The knock about the west suggests the Dogs were good last week, and had the Cats for most of the game before their bare eighteen ran out of puff in the last quarter. They should shape up stronger for this, and with the experience of Woolaston, George, Murphy and Shawcross at their disposal have enough guns to mount a stout defence of the home fortress. Reports were glowing of their opponents in this, the Saints, after their last quarter hack job of the Kangaroos. Whilst comparisons to Atlantic Jewel may be premature, they certainly have dropped the rock in front of the rest of the League. There is a whisper they might be light on for this one, but have a strong core of players who are a match under any circumstances. The Drum suspects this one will be closer than the form line suggests, and with the Dogs having a good record at home against the Saints is leaving to a surprise home victory on Sunday.
The Drum: Bulldogs by two goals.
Aside:
The Fridge mentioned last week at least one player recently making the top grade out of the Broken Hiill Football League. The Drum asks if the names Taylor Walker, Brent Staker and Dean Solomon ring any bells?
Last Modified on 19/04/2012 09:47