GOLDEN Rivers Football League rivals, Wandella and Macorna will meet tomorrow with top spot on the ladder on the line.
The two clubs have developed a healthy rivalry, intensifying in seasons that the Tigers have challenged or made the finals.
Macorna goes into the game as the only undefeated side in the competition, with Wandella second on the ladder but boasting a superior percentage.
“To only have one team undefeated after three rounds shows the evenness of the competition,” Macorna coach, Wayne Mitrovic said.
Both teams go into the game coming off wins – the Tigers defeated Hay by 26 points last weekend, whilst Wandella defeated the winless Moulamein by 60 points.
Wandella came away from its annual trip to Moulamein without any extra injuries, which will help coach, Paul Grayling when it comes to selecting his 21-player side.
“At the end of the day we have to worry about our processes and if we get it right on the day, we will go well,” he said.
It is a different story for the Tigers. Mitrovic will be coaching from the sidelines after straining a hamstring last weekend, resulting in a potential three-week lay-off, with Sam Anstey and Anthony Scafidi also not available for selection this weekend.
“Both sides do not have explosive quick players in the forward line, but have big and strong-bodies people,” Mitrovic said.
“Clinton Cummins has come into the (wandella) side and kicked a number of goals, Greg Dickson can kick two or three goals and then you’ve got Daniel Baker coming off the wing.”
Luke Spalding will duel in the ruck against Wandella pair Rick Cathie and Dylan McGrath, with Tigers captain, Jordan Simpson set to take on the challenge of stopping former Wandella coach, Blake Anderson in the home team’s forward line.
Tim Robinson will have a go-to role with key Macorna recruit, Brett O’Hanlon, with Adrian Crellin to be given the role of shutting down key Tigers forward, Brett Collins.
The Tigers have only won once at the Wandella recreation reserve this century, with the club’s comeback victory in 2012 pivotal to the side’s finals campaign that season.
“Wandella has got the better of us at the ground, but all players lift for this game,” Mitrovic said.
PREDICTION: Wandella will keep its dominant record against the Tigers going, thanks to a 10-point win.
Mallee clash
NULLAWIL and Ultima’s first meeting of 2016 is set to shape the Golden Rivers Football League ladder four rounds into the season.
The winner of tomorrow’s game will move to 3-1 and be entrenched in the top four, with the loser to fall one game behind the competition’s leading sides.
Both teams recorded wins at the weekend – Ultima fought back to defeat Murrabit by 20 points, whilst a second quarter blitz set up the Maroons’ 68-point win against Quambatook.
Jarrod Kemp was pivotal in last week’s win at Quambatook, restricting Patrick Rattray to five goals, and he will need to repeat this effort tomorrow against one of the competition’s top goalkickers.
Basil Althouse has booted 12 goals this season, and could be a handful if he able to dictate terms.
Down the other end of the ground, the battle between the competition’s leading goalkicker in 2015, Kal Heslop and Nathan Condely will be just as critical to the result.
If Daniel Watts and Matt Harrop control terms in the middle of the ground, the home side could end a five-match losing streak against the two-time reigning premiers that stems back to round two, 2014.
This run of wins has included three home and away matches and two finals in 2014, with Tom Isma, Tom Bull and Luke O’Toole pivotal in each of these wins.
PREDICTION: Ultima will be entrenched in the top four thanks to a 20-point win.
Key game for Lions, Saints
HAY and Quambatook will meet tomorrow in a key game for both teams.
The Lions are one win off top spot on the ladder, and victory tomorrow against the side that denied the club the chance to play in the 2015 grand final will lock the team in the top four after four weeks of the season.
Hay pushed Macorna last weekend before going down by 26 points, and with matches to come against Wandella and Ultima before the AFL Victoria Community Championships break, the Lions need to claim victory.
“The season was going very well until last weekend, but Macorna is a very good side,” Lions coach, Simon Bunyan said.
“Saturday will be a big game for us, like every game, as the competition is very even this year.”
The result has greater significance for the Saints, who are yet to win a game this season.
Quambatook – which lost the nucleus of its grand final side during the off-season – is trying to find its form, but is starting to lose ground on the top four.
If Luke Jackson and Gregor Knight can provide options for Patrick Rattray in the visitors’ forward line, the Saints could add a third successive win against the Lions to their record.
However, if Bunyan and Michael Dedini dominate in the midfield, allowing Justin Ellis and Taylor Williamson to mark the ball inside the Lions’ 50, a fourth consecutive loss for the Saints will be on the cards.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by 40 points.
Blues may benefit
MURRABIT could be the beneficiaries of this weekend’s results if results go the club’s way.
The Blues, who are sixth on the ladder with a 1-2 record, can be in touch with the top four with a win against Moulamein tomorrow, as well as losses to Wandella and either Ultima or Nullawil.
Nathan Henry’s men pushed the ‘Roos last weekend before going down in the second half – yet the result showed the club will challenge for finals, especially with games to come in the coming fortnight against Macorna and Wandella.
Henry’s return last weekend strengthened the club’s forward line, and his presence will provide headaches for Tony Mudge’s men.
Brendan Blackmore will be Moulamein’s key option to stop Henry, but the side does not boast any players tall or agile enough to prevent Josh Dwyer and Andrew Spitty to control proceedings in the midfield.
Xavia Elford’s battle with Bryden Morison will be critical to the Swans’ hopes, but apart from Pat Caldwell – who will face a duel with Dylan Morison – the visitors will not have enough goalkicking options.
Murrabit won on both occasions these sides met in 2015, with the Swans’ last win against the Blues occurring in round 13, 2014.
PREDICTION: Murrabit will win by 50 points.
