Maldon will need to stand tall against the rampaging Lexton Tigers combination this weekend in Round nine of action in the Bendigo Bank Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League if they are to remain on the winners list.
They were able to hold off a determined Avoca combination last weekend although this poses to be a much bigger test against the Tigers.
Lexton have been consistent and constantly improving after a disappointing opening Round defeat to the hands of Carisbrook under lights in which they only managed six goals.
Coach Shane Fisher predicted that they would improve as the Season progressed and that is exactly what has happened. They have a high number of players focused on playing a role for the team at present which has helped the Tigers move into flag favorites.
Matt Brown has been a driving force in attack with forty nine goals from the opening eight matches and he looks on track to surpass his ninety goal 2011 Season haul.
He along with the strong over head marking of Nic Loncandro at either end of the ground, the consistent Steven Tung and Trent Brown who booted three goals in Sunday’s victory over reigning Premiers Natte Bealiba represent some of the great talent at Tigerland.
The Tigers will be on the lookout for a minder for Maldon small forward Dave Carroll who is in slick touch around the sticks with fourteen goals in his past three matches.
Kyle Whitstandly, Sean Burchell and Hayden Kelly represent a band of players that have the skill and speed to help create shots on goal in quick time.
The Tigers with the thumping percentage of 347.06% will appropriately enter the match as favourites, and while Maldon’s best brand of football could tip the game in their scales a Lexton victory of twenty four points is a more likely outcome.
Campbells Creek v Avoca
Avoca travel to Campbells Creek for a must win game if they are to remain in the top eight. The Bulldogs are currently in eighth position on the ladder sitting one game clear of the Magpies and with very little percentage separating the two teams.
Avoca was in a very competitive position at half time against Maldon last week but failed to go on with it after the main break as they seemed to run out of legs with the Bombers finishing the game off more strongly.
Nathan Coghlan played his best game for the season for the Bulldogs and will need to play at the same level this week to provide the Bulldogs with another forward option other than Coach Adrian Pilgrim who is the key focal point for the Bulldogs.
Campbells Creek were brought back to earth at Navarre last week after handing Royal Park a lesson the week before. The Magpies were very disappointing against the Grasshoppers and were not in the game at any stage, and a much improved performance will be necessary to beat the Bulldogs.
Joel Smith and Mitch & Jordan Gilboy, will have a good battle in the middle with Lachlan Edwards, Beau Ketchen and Sam Kaye, but Creek may have the upper hand at the centre bounces with Gary Bradford being in very good form in the ruck.
A close contest is expected but the home ground advantage may see Creek get the points narrowly.
Newstead v Dunolly
Dunolly won their second game of the season last week when they played Talbot at Deledio Reserve.
The Eagles started strongly with a six goal opening term and if they are to have any chance against Newstead this Saturday then they must get off to another good start this week.
Alistair Lantjin was recently cleared to Dunolly from St Arnaud and the high flyer has added some goal kicking strength to the Eagles line up, while Lachlan Liddicoat was in season best form in the twenty five point win over Talbot.
Newstead are coming off a big win over the previously undefeated Carisbrook team and are now sitting in second position on the ladder and a definite candidate as a Premiership fancy at the half way point in the season.
Nathan Webster was outstanding against Brook along with Luke Walters who was setting up attacking moves across half back and will have to be well covered if the Eagles are to have any chance of posting their third win of the season.
It is difficult to see the Eagles having the firepower to get over Newstead at their home ground and the Steaders should win comfortably.
Carisbrook v Harcourt
Harcourt will have a touch of momentum at their back for the first time this Season tackle a highly rated but currently vulnerable Carisbrook combination this Saturday.
The Lions caused a surprise runaway victory against the Maryborough Rovers last Saturday providing a solid lead into this more substantial challenge.
Lions Coach and key forward Jarrod Trethowan said it is an enthusiastic team that will hit the ground this weekend ‘’ Last Saturday was a really positive win for us and we hope to take that confidence into this big match’’.
Dayne Carmichael was a star for Harcourt in attack with a five goal haul and the Lions will be hopeful of a repeat performance in this match ‘’ Yeah Dayne has been a good addition for us he is a strong mark and a good kick on goal, but we’ve also had some players come back from injury which has helped the side as well’’.
Trethowan has been keeping an eye on his former Club and noted they are a team with many strengths ‘’ Carisbrook are a strong team all over the ground with plenty of players that are a handful for us guys like Marcus Emmett in the midfield and Nathan Wright up forward are very good players’’.
‘’ They have good tall targets and a solid midfield which makes them a really strong team’’.
On paper it appears a miss-match with the Lions currently showing a 2-6 form line and sitting on the 12th rung of the MCDFL ladder as opposed to Carisbrook who have suffered just the one loss.
Harcourt would need their stars to fire if they were too pull this one although the depth of quality in the Carisbrook line up should see them arrest this mini form slide and win by 31 points.
Maryborough Rovers v Trentham
Trentham is taking all before them and on recent form should be able to add Maryborough Rovers to their list of victims as the Saints go marching in.
The Saints have only been defeated on two occasions for the season with their last loss being back in Round three against Maldon and with the inclusion of Corey & Dion Lawson has also come a never say die attitude and the ability to finish games off strongly. In the last four games, Trentham has kicked an average of ten goals in the final quarter, with twelve goals against Harcourt and thirteen against Royal Park last week.
After a good start to the season, Maryborough Rovers have been very disappointing in recent weeks with the low point coming in Round seven when Newstead held them to one goal for the game. Rovers have been starting the games strongly, but failing to see out the game. They had Navarre on the ropes in Round six and were overran by the Grasshoppers, and last week were well on top against Harcourt at half time, only to see the home side completely dominate the second half to win by forty one points.
Based on this form line, Trentham should have a very comfortable win at Jubilee oval.
Royal Park v Navarre
Royal Park will have the task ahead of them again this Saturday when they host the in-form Navarre Football Club.
2012 has been a true struggle for Royal Park as they are yet to taste a victory.
The best performance was against Talbot in Round five when they went down by fifty nine points.
Trentham was able to penetrate the Royal Park attack for thirty nine majors last Saturday so their ability to improve their defensive actions will be important this Saturday against the equally dangerous Navarre side.
All eyes will be on exciting Navarre forward Kris Brennan to see how many goals he can kick in this match.
Royal Park on the hand will look for big performances from Matt Walker who battled hard against the odds last Saturday, and Zac Stewart who was a multiple goal kicker with two.
A determined mind set is the best thing the Royal Park team can bring to the table as Navarre will be in no mood to for cutting them any slack.
Navarre to win by eighty nine points.
Talbot v Natte Bealiba
Natte-Bealiba travel to Talbot on Saturday and will be eager to bounce back from their loss to Lexton who are now sitting on top of the ladder courtesy of the win.
The Swans put up a strong showing against the Tigers and it was still anyone’s game at the final change, but the Tigers superior fitness allowed them to run out the game stronger.
Talbot have been on the improve in the past two rounds and provided a good showing against Dunolly last week in a game that the Hawks matched the Eagles in the final three quarters, and they very nearly knocked off Carisbrook the week before after hitting the front in the final quarter, but could not sustain the effort needed to get the points.
The Hawks will be hoping to add former Avoca ruckman Nathan Bourke to their playing stocks this week, but he will have his work cut out when lining up against Lachlan Cameron who has been in outstanding form for the Swans this season.
Natte Bealiba has a number of experienced players in their line-up and with the inclusion of Zac Perez back from injury should be too strong for Talbot as they look to maintain their spot in the top eight.
Last Modified on 29/06/2012 17:25