GOLDEN Rivers Football League rivals, Murrabit and Wandella will meet tomorrow in a key round six match that could turn into a shootout.
The ladder-leading Bombers will look to go into the AFL Victoria Community Championship break with a 5-1 record, whilst the Blues will aim to move to 4-2 before the first bye of the season.
Both teams produced strong second halves last weekend to record wins, with Wandella too strong for Hay and Murrabit’s accuracy in front of goal helping against Macorna.
“To start the season the way we did against Nullawil was disappointing. However the guys have used that as motivation to improve performance,” Murrabit coach, Nathan Henry said.
“We are beginning to play a better brand of football and defeating Macorna was our first win against a side above us on the ladder.
“Having said that we are in exactly the same position as we were last year, 3-2 after five rounds, so we need to continue to improve.”
The coaches of both sides will hold the key to this result, with Wandella leader, Paul Grayling and Henry dominating in front of goal.
Grayling leads the competition with 29 goals from five games, with Henry kicking 16 from his three appearances.
Dylan Morison – who Grayling coached when the pair played at Pyramid Hill – will be best suited to take on the challenge of stopping the Bombers’ leader, whilst Tim Robinson, Matt Wilkinson or Brodey Farley will battle with Henry.
The ruck duel between Murrabit pair, Josh Dwyer and Andrew Spitty and Wandella duo, Rick Cathie and Dylan McGrath will be pivotal to the result, with former Kerang teammates, Bryden Morison and Greg Dickson to battle in the midfield for the Blues and Bombers.
“Wandella has scored heavily so far this season averaging 118 points and conceding only 56, so we need to restrict their ability to score by putting pressure on the midfielders’ delivery and key match-ups down back,” Henry said.
Wandella defeated the Blues by five points when the sides met under lights in the opening round of last season, with Murrabit prevailing by 76 points in round 10 last year.
PREDICTION: Wandella will win by 20 points.
Forward’s presence needed
THE result of tomorrow’s match between reigning GRFL premiers, Ultima and last season’s preliminary finalists, Hay will hinge on the presence of a key forward.
The ‘Roos may be second on the ladder with a 3-1 record, but have struggled in the past two weeks without spearhead Basil Althouse.
The forward sat out most of Ultima’s 18-point win against Nullawil in round four and missed last weekend’s 16-point win against Quambatook.
Althouse’s presence tomorrow will be critical to the host’s hopes against a Lions outfit that have lost its past two games on the road.
Although Ultima boasts a stronger back six, led by Nathan Condely, its midfield will be challenged by former Central Murray Football Netball League players Simon Bunyan and Michael Dedini.
The battle between Bunyan and Luke O’Toole in the middle of the ground will be crucial to the result, with Dedini to be given the role to shut down Jacob Schaper.
Condely will take on Taylor Williamson in Hay’s forward 50, but this will leave Justin Ellis and Jackson Ferguson to run free across the half-forward line.
If Althouse plays Ferguson will be asked to drop back into the host’s forward line to contain goalkicker, who has booted 15 goals this season.
However, if Althouse is not playing, the Lions will be in the box seat to win its first match at Ultima since round 17, 2012 – the last time Hay prevailed against the ‘Roos.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by six points.
Top four calling
A SPOT in the top four will be on the line tomorrow when Nullawil hosts Macorna.
The Maroons shrugged off Moulamein last weekend, whilst the Tigers lost their second consecutive game of the season, this time against Murrabit.
Both sides have been hit by injuries and absentees in the past few weeks, with the Maroons still finding the right combination of players to fill vacant spots.
The return of Reece Poyner has given Nullawil another forward option, as well as providing Kal Heslop the freedom of not having to battle some of the top defenders in the competition.
Macorna is one match away from being back at full strength, with the side missing the on-field presence of coach, Wayne Mitrovic.
The Tigers have lost both matches Mitrovic has been out with a hamstring strain, and would like to have him on the ground tomorrow to challenge Daniel Watts in the midfield.
Although missing their talisman, the Tigers still boast a number of match winning players, including Brett O’Hanlon, Brad Ladson, Matt Ladson and forward, Brett Collins.
Nullawil coach, Scott Mathiske and Grant Ford will take on the Ladsons in the midfield, with Jarrod Kemp to battle Collins in the Tigers’ forward line.
Wayne Wishart and Liam Roberts will take on Poyner and Heslop in Nullawil’s forward 50, with the duo needing to shut the Maroons’ goalkicking duo down if the Tigers are to break a seven-year losing streak at the Nullawil Recreation Reserve.
PREDICTION: Nullawil will hold on for a 10-point win.
First win to occur
QUAMBATOOK and Moulamein will be looking for their first win of the season when the seventh and eighth-placed sides meet tomorrow.
This game is critical to the finals hopes of both sides, with the loser to fall three wins outside the top four with 10 rounds to go.
Both sides are 0-5, but put in their best performances so far this season last weekend.
The Saints, minus Patrick Rattray, welcomed the return of Andrew Spengler and new recruit, former Goulburn Valley Football League interleague player, James Lloyd to push reigning premiers, Ultima before going down by 16 points in the grand final rematch.
The Swans challenged Nullawil during the opening half, before going down by 30 points in the club’s best performance since round 10, 2015, when the side lost to Wakool by 34 points.
For Quambatook to win its first match since last season’s preliminary final, captain Gregor Knight and fellow midfielder, Luke Jackson need to get on top of their battles with Xavia Ellford and Jim Degregorio.
However, if Patrick Caldwell and Todd McInnes are able to dominate in front of goal, Moulamein could be on its way to breaking a 25-game losing streak.
The Saints have won the past seven games against the Swans, with the last meeting resulting in a 201-point win in round 15, 2015.
PREDICTION: Quambatook will win by 30 points.
