WANDELLA will aim to build on last weekend’s strong start to the Golden Rivers Football League season with a win tomorrow against reigning premiers, Ultima.
The Bombers – led by new coach, Paul Grayling and fellow recruit, Greg Dickson – dominated against 2015 grand finalists, Quambatook in the opening round.
Grayling kicked seven of Wandella’s 22 goals last weekend, with Dickson chipping in with three of his own, as the Bombers finished the day on top of the ladder.
It was a different story for Ultima. Missing four regular top-flight players, the ‘Roos could not match a full-strength Macorna side, going down by 16 points.
Tomorrow’s match could become a shoot-out, especially with the presence of Grayling and new Ultima forward, Basil Althouse at either end of the ground.
Nathan Condely will be given the role of stopping Grayling from dominating for a second consecutive week, with Brodey Farley – who spent last weekend in the back third of the ground rather than in the ruck alongside Ricky Cathie and Dylan McGrath – to go to Althouse.
Ryan Devereux also looms as a dangerous player for the ‘Roos – evident last week in his five-goal effort. Dillan Treacy or Nick Farley will be given the role to curtail the roving forward.
The Bombers ended Ultima’s 20-match winning streak when the sides last met at the Wandella Recreation Reserve early in season 2015, with the ‘Roos prevailing by 14 points later in the year.
PREDICTION: Wandella will go 2-0 with a 20-point win.
Sides aim to rebound
TWO of the sides that were outclassed last weekend, Murrabit and Quambatook, will meet tomorrow in a key game for both teams.
The Blues were outclassed by Nullawil, whilst the Saints were no match for Quambatook.
Murrabit was missing three key players – coach Nathan Henry, defender Dain Hayes and new recruit Luke Nyko – last weekend, with the trio to provide added strength against last year’s grand finalists.
One of the battles of the day will be between Murrabit ruckman, Josh Dwyer and Quambatook’s Tim Darcy. Whichever tall wins this match-up will be on the winning side come 5pm.
The Saints will look to pre-season recruit, Patrick Rattray – who was held goalless last weekend against a strong Wandella defensive unit – to bounce back. Expect Henry to give Dylan Morison – who battled with Kal Heslop last week – to take on the challenge.
Ash Davis and Luke Parker will also look forward to their contest with Henry, which has provided many highlights in the past few years.
The Saints defeated the Blues on each occasion these sides met in 2015, with the closest margin being 12 points in round eight.
PREDICTION: Quambatook will bounce back with a 10-point win.
Long road trip
NULLAWIL will look to gain bragging rights tomorrow against the side that knocked the club out of last year’s finals.
The Maroons will travel to Hay minus midfielder Matt Heslop – who is set to miss most of the season with a leg injury.
Nullawil defeated Murrabit by 39 points last weekend without Brett Barker and Andrew Oberforder, whilst Hay was too strong for Moulamein, winning by 90 points.
Barker’s presence tomorrow will be crucial if the Maroons are to stop Taylor Williamson – who kicked eight goals in the Lions’ win last weekend.
If Williamson and Jackson Ferguson dominate play across the Lions’ half-forward line, the competition’s northernmost side could inflict its second consecutive win against the Maroons.
However, if Oberdorfer and Kal Heslop – who Lions coach, Simon Bunyan will try to stop – fire, Ferguson will need to drift across Hay’s half-back line to mitigate any damage on the scoreboard.
Nullawil defeated Hay on both occasions during last year’s home and away season, before the Lions prevailed by 22 points in the first semi-final – Hay’s first win against the Maroons in more than a decade.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by 30 points.
Tigers on top
THERE is a strong chance Macorna could be on top of the Golden Rivers Football League ladder by 5pm tomorrow.
Buoyed by last weekend’s win against Ultima, the Tigers go into the match against Moulamein – who the club defeated by more than 100 points on each occasion the sides met in 2015 – as strong favourites.
Brett Collins, Wayne Mitrovic and the Ladsons – Matt and Brad – set up Macorna’s first win against the two-time reigning premiers since 2012, and will feature prominently tomorrow if Tony Mudge’s men cannot stop the quartet.
The Swans were no match for Hay last weekend, and face another challenge against a side that has recruited well during the pre-season.
Brendan Blackmore will be asked to try to stop Collins from kicking goals, with Xavia Elford to run with Matt Ladson in the midfield.
Even if these individual match-ups work for the Swans, the side does not have the options to stop the likes of Mitrovic, Brent O’Hanlon or Jesse Lampi from securing the Tigers’ second win of the season.
PREDICTION: Macorna will win by 80 points.
