SPECTATORS attending tomorrow’s Golden Rivers Football League match between Murrabit and Nullawil should expect a shootout involving some of the competition’s key forwards.
In what shapes as a key game for both sides, three of the league’s key forwards – Nullawil’s Kal Heslop and Blues pair, Nathan Henry and Justin McConnell – will lead the way for their respective teams.
The Maroons – who defeated the Blues by 32 points when the teams last met in round five – go into the match on the back of a 14-day break, whilst the Blues defeated Macorna by 78 points six days ago.
With fellow top four sides Ultima, Wandella and Hay playing the competition’s bottom three sides, the result of this match at the Murrabit Recreation Reserve will shape the finals hopes of both teams.
A home team win will leave the defending premiers fifth on the ladder and one win outside the top four, depending on the result of the Moulamein v Hay game. This result could also potentially leave Nullawil two wins off second spot on the ladder if Wandella defeats Wakool.
However, a Maroons victory will leave last season’s preliminary finalists in touch with the top two, whilst the Blues will be two wins outside the top five if the Lions win.
Heslop kicked six goals when the teams last met in mid-May, and Dylan Morison will have the challenge of stopping the livewire forward.
Andrew Oberdorfer will be just as dangerous, meaning Josh Dwyer and Andrew Spitty may be rotated between the ruck and centre half-back.
Henry also kicked six goals in the last meeting between the teams, with Jarrod Kemp to take on the role of stopping the Blues stalwart.
McConnell is proving to be a key recruit for the Blues – evident with his eight-goal effort in last weekend’s game – with Maroons coach, Grant Ford to potentially put Brett Barker on the forward.
PREDICTION: Nullawil will win by 30 points.
Bombers to continue pressure
WANDELLA will look to keep the pressure on competition leaders, Ultima with a big win at Wakool.
The Bombers controlled last weekend’s game against Ultima from the opening bounce in its 45-point win.
The Hawks may have lost to Hay by 96 points, but it was the first time this season the side has lost by less than 100 points.
Wandella won by 149 points when the teams last met in May, but the Hawks defeated the Bombers when the side last met at the Wakool Recreation Reserve close to two years ago.
If the Hawks are to be competitive, Tyson Webb and Beau Baxter-Jukes will need to control proceedings in the midfield to have any chance to get the ball to Luke Kirkland.
Tim Robinson and Ryan Lancaster will have other ideas across Wandella’s back line, and if the pair can shut play down to enable the Bombers’ midfielders to get the ball to Paul Grayling and Sam Sperling, it will be another one-sided affair for Grayling’s side.
PREDICTION: Wandella will win by at least 80 points.
‘Roos to bounce back
MACORNA faces the daunting task of taking on an Ultima side that will play one week after its opening loss of the season.
The ‘Roos were outclassed in its 45-point loss to Wandella six days ago, whilst the Tigers provided a challenge for Murrabit in the opening three quarters of its 78-point loss.
Michael Rowe’s side lost to Ultima by 76 points when these teams last met in mid-May, with the Tigers kicking 11 goals from the same number of shots, but it will be a tougher task tomorrow.
Expect Jack O’Rourke’s team to put in a significantly better performance, with Luke Kelson, Arnold Kirby and Brenton Pay to lead the way again.
If Jessi Lampi and Joel Dwyer can provide a challenge in the midfield and get the ball to Rowe and company in Macorna’s forward line, it could be an entertaining day.
However, if Macorna’s defenders cannot contain Ultima’s various options in front of goal, a one-sided affair will occur.
PREDICTION: Ultima will win by 80 points.
Lions seek consolidation
HAY will look to consolidate its spot in the top four with a win at Moulamein tomorrow.
With Quambatook having the bye and Murrabit taking on Nullawil, a win could increase Hay’s margin over the Saints and Blues to two games going into the final seven rounds of the season.
The Lions defeated Wakool by 96 points last weekend, but inaccuracy cost the competition’s northernmost team the chance to record a triple-figure victory.
The Swans were no match to Quambatook last weekend, but a last quarter surge ensured Moulamein only went down by 19 points.
The way Moulamein played in the final quarter last week would be something Hay’s coach, Taylor Williamson will be mindful of.
If Tom Isma and Xavia Elford control play like they did last weekend, the Swans could produce an upset win and keep the club’s slim finals hopes alive.
However, if Jackson Ferguson produces another eight-goal effort – like he did when the Lions prevailed by 68 points when the teams last met in round six – the Lions will record their seventh win of the season.
PREDICTION: Hay will end Moulamein’s slim finals hopes with a 60-point victory.
