HISTORY will be in Kerang’s favour going into one of the most anticipated Central Murray Football Netball League matches of the season tomorrow.
The five-time defending premiers travel to Woorinen in a top of the table clash, with both sides on track to meet at least once in the finals.
A win against one of the five sides to have faced the Blues in a grand final since 2012 will all but secure the minor premiership for Travis Matheson’s side, with the club having an easier draw going into the finals compared to the Tigers.
Although Woorinen has recorded a win and a draw in the past four encounters between the sides, Kerang has not lost at the Woorinen Recreation Reserve since at least 2009.
Although the average winning margin between both teams since Kerang’s run of five consecutive flags began in 2012 is 21 points, the figure increase to 25 points for games played at the Tigers’ home ground.
The Tigers’ last loss came against the Blues in round one, whilst Kerang has won its past three games by at least 50 points.
In an example of the dominance Woorinen and Kerang boast, this match will see the league’s best defensive unit take on the second-highest scoring club in the competition.
Patrick Taban, Joshua Nitschke and Brandon Hayes have helped Kerang only concede 436 points in its 10 games this season – 135 less points than what the Tigers have allowed their opponents to score.
However, Woorinen’s total points scored this year is 1029 – 37 points more than the Blues, but the defending premiers are closing the gap thanks to the recruiting of Scott Lockwood.
The former Mount Eliza and Sorrento forward has kicked 13 goals in his first four games for the Blues – scoring at least one goal per match since linking up with Kerang.
Jamie Nicholas will be best suited to battle with Lockwood in the Blues’ forward line, with Taban to be given the role of stopping Doug Palmer and the hosts’ hopes in front of goal.
The midfield battle between Kerang’s Ryan Gillingham and Aaron Cadd will be pivotal to the result, whilst Troy Davis will win the battle in the ruck for the visitors against Lachlan Gardner.
PREDICTION: Kerang will produce a second win of the season against Woorinen, prevailing by 20 points.
KOONDROOK/BARHAM faces a must-win match tomorrow when the Raiders travel to take on Tooleybuc/Manangatang.
Fresh off a bye last weekend, the border side needs to win to stay in touch with the Central Murray Football Netball League top five.
With Balranald and the Cohuna Kangas – who are level with the Raiders on four wins – to meet tomorrow, Neil Bradley’s team can move as high as eighth and be outside the top five thanks to percentage if Tyntynder loses to the Mallee Eagles.
The Saints – who went down to the Mallee Eagles by 150 points last weekend – will have other ideas, with the match being the composite team’s best chance of victory since round nine.
Dean Limbach will be the player that will determine the result of this game. The forward announced his presence in the Raiders’ seven-point win when the teams last met in round one, kicking six of the hosts’ 13 goals.
John Wardle will be given the role of stopping Limbach, with Ben Arentz to battle with another of the Raiders’ key forwards, Rhys Estall.
Troy Rogers and Patrick Goble will lead the Raiders’ hopes in the middle of the ground, with Craig Morris and Danny Main needing to wrestle control of proceedings if the Saints are to record a second win of the season.
Richard Wardle and Adam Tipungwuti were the Saints’ two goalkickers last weekend, with the pair needing to get on top of Michael Grant and Blake Chant if the home side is to win.
PREDICTION: Koondrook/Barham will win by 20 points.
THE Mallee Eagles and Tyntynder face a season-defining encounter tomorrow, with the result to have ramifications on the battle for finals positions.
Depending on the result of the Woorinen v Kerang match, the Eagles could be second on the ladder going into a round 13 clash with the Tigers, but will remain third if the Lalbert-based team drops its first match since round two.
The result will be just as important for the Bulldogs. A repeat of the round one, four-point win will see Jay McDonald’s team move back into the top five and one victory ahead of the chasing pack.
The Bulldogs will be a greater challenge for Dean Helmers and his team, with the Eagles accounting for Tooleybuc/Manangatang by 150 points six days ago. However, the hosts will look to put in a better performance than last weekend’s 79-point loss to Kerang.
Brad Carroll will be the hosts’ key target in the forward line, with Beau Bennett to have the job of shutting down the key forward.
Justin Ellis and Bryce Delmenico will look to link up in the middle of the ground – with Angus McKenzie and Steven Boyall to do the same for the Eagles – whilst Corey Viani and Zak Saad will need to win their battles against Luke Brown and McDonald to give the visitors a chance of an eighth consecutive victory.
PREDICTION: The Mallee Eagles will hold on for a 10-point win.
THE Cohuna Kangas will be well positioned to break a six-match losing streak tomorrow when the club embarks on the longest trip in the Central Murray Football Netball League.
The Kangas will take on Balranald, with both teams recording four wins so far in season 2017.
It has been more than two months since Scott Beattie’s side has recorded a win, with the club facing a tough run of games involving the competition’s top three sides.
The Kangas accounted for the ‘Roos by 57 points when the teams met in round one, with Brett Collins and Harrison Keely dominating.
Keely has been contained in the past three games, with Collins missing last weekend’s 71-point loss to Woorinen.
If Jarryd Stead and Ryan Hodgson cannot contain the pair, the Kangas will be on track to record their first win since round four.
The duel between the hosts’ Ben Jones and Rhys Bradley will be a highlight, whilst Keiran Treacy will oversee the Kangas’ defensive unit, which needs to stop Ben Fuller from scoring.
The winner of this match will move level with the loser of the Nyah-Nyah West United v Swan Hill game with five wins, and depending on the result of the match between Tyntynder and the Mallee Eagles, could be outside the top five only by percentage.
PREDICTION: The Cohuna Kangas will win by 40 points.
