By KEVIN HILLIER - Division 1 Seniors
THE casualty count is rising as the finals aspirants emerge in the final weeks of the 2016 season and we are in for an interesting ride in the next few weeks.
Hopefully with a surprise or two to keep players and supporters on our toes.
As predicted the Saints have jumped into the five and Spotswood has fallen out.
Spotswood has been hard hit by injury and in another low scoring match went down to Altona last week.
This week they head to Wyndhamvale, a side that beat them earlier in the year. Both sides have struggled to score in recent weeks and while the Woodsmen look a shadow of their former selves, I think they will just get home, otherwise their season is shot to pieces.
Pride is all Sunshine have to play for and that won’t be enough to get them the points against Hoppers Crossing.
The Warriors have been tinkering with their line up, and will continue to explore options and configurations between now and the start of the finals.
The availability of Ashlin Brown and Jackson Viola will be very important now and in a few weeks time.
The thing to like about the Warriors is their flexibility and their depth, both of which are looking good at this stage.
Deer Park pair Brendan Fevola and Jase Perkins look to be fighting out the race for the Andrew Gibson medal, and causing backman headaches in the process.
The Lions biggest headache is finding their best team and being able to get it on the park. They will have too many scoring options and too much class for Altona this week.
The Vikings can keep their top three hopes alive with a win, but that is not going to happen.
In the radio match of the day Albion host St Albans. The Saints found a new spearhead last week in the absence of Michael Spooner, Lachie Baddeley stepped up, just the kind of versatility they will need to make the finals, and do some damage.
Albion without skipper Josh Bench can still slip into fifth position if the cards fall their way. While miracles do happen in sport, this one is not going to materialize.
Werribee Districts has the bye and a chance to reload for the final three games of the season against St. Albans, Hoppers and Spotswood.
Coach Paul Chapman won’t be playing after tearing his hamstring so they need Dean, Halloran, Panayi, Morrow, Prismall and Black to name but a few, all rested and refreshed if they are going to have a deep finals series.
Last Modified on 19/07/2016 10:37