A SPOT in the top three awaits the winner of tomorrow’s Golden Rivers Football League match between Wandella and Nullawil.
Both sides sit in the top four after six rounds with a 4-2 record, with the result of the game between the potential finalists to have ramifications come August.
The winner of tomorrow’s match at Wandella will be one win clear of fourth spot on the ladder after seven rounds, with the loser to drop into the battle for finals places nearing the halfway mark of the season.
The Maroons have won their past two games, including a 25-point victory against Macorna two weeks ago.
The Bombers were also in a good vein of form before their 48-point loss to Murrabit in round six, winning four of its opening five games of the season.
The return of Reece Poyner to the Maroons’ forward line has helped cover the number of injuries and absentees Nullawil coach, Scott Mathiske has faced this season.
Poyner’s height means he faces battling the major defender from his opposition side, leaving Kal Heslop to roam free inside the Maroons’ 50.
The Bombers have plenty of options to cover the pair, with Tim Robinson, Nick Farley and Brodey Farley all capable to playing in the back line against the duo.
In the middle of the ground, Daniel Watts will aim to continue his best on ground performance from last weekend’s GRFL AFL Victoria Community Championship win at Tallygaroopna, linking up with Mathiske in the midfield.
The pair will battle with Daniel Baker and Justin Wilson, with the home side aiming to get the ball to Blake Anderson, Paul Grayling and Gavin Cathie, who will return to the field after sustaining a knee injury earlier in the season.
Jarrod Kemp’s battle with Grayling will be pivotal to the result. If the Maroons’ key defender can stop the competition’s leading goalkicker, then the visitors will record their first win at Wandella since 2013.
However, if the Bombers coach and his fellow forwards can dominate, the Bombers will remain in the top three with nine rounds remaining.
Nullawil defeated Wandella by 21 points when the teams met in round three last year, with the Bombers prevailing by 10 points in round 12. Another close match is on the cards tomorrow.
PREDICTION: Wandella will win by 20 points.
Teammates to rivals
THE match-up between two players who set up Golden Rivers Football League’s victory in last weekend’s AFL Victoria Community Championship match at Tallygarooopna will be pivotal to the outcome of tomorrow’s match at Hay.
Second-placed Murrabit (4-2) will travel to take on the fifth-placed Lions (3-3) in one of the matches of the day.
The Lions lost to competition leaders, Ultima by 12 points two weeks ago, whilst the Blues defeated Wandella by 48 points.
Murrabit coach, Nathan Henry kicked five goals in his last match for the Blues, before booting three majors in the GRFL’s win against Kyabram District last weekend.
Henry will face the challenge tomorrow of trying to dominate against one of the competition’s top centre half-backs, Hay’s Jackson Ferguson.
The former St Kilda player’s defensive nous set up the GRFL’s win last weekend, and Hay coach, Simon Bunyan will rely on Ferguson’s skills to stop Henry from dominating.
Another key battle will occur in the middle of the ground, with three of the competition’s top ruckmen to face off.
Hay ruckman, Tim Hanna will take on Murrabit duo Josh Dwyer and Andrew Spitty, with Justin Ellis to help Hanna when needed.
Bunyan will hope Hanna and Ellis can work to get the ball to the home team’s forward line, where Taylor Williamson and Ricki Waters will be waiting to capitalise on any scoring opportunities.
Dylan Morison will go to Williamson, with Matt Roberts to battle with Waters.
Hay has won its past four matches against the Blues, with last year’s encounters resulting in a 21-point victory in round six and a 132-point win in round 15.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by 20 points.
Staying in the race
MACORNA will be looking to end its three-match losing streak tomorrow when the Tigers host seventh-placed Quambatook in a key game for both sides.
The Tigers have fallen from top of the ladder at the end of round three to sixth after six rounds following losses to Wandella, Murrabit and Nullawil, whilst last season’s grand finalists won their first match of the season before the AFL Victoria Community Championship break.
A Tigers win will see the side level with the fourth-placed team on wins, whilst the Saints need to win to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
The home side will receive a boost with the return of coach, Wayne Mitrovic from injury, with the utility set to play against one of the competition’s newest recruits.
James Lloyd has kicked six goals since joining the Saints in round five, including four majors in Quambatook’s round six win against Moulamein.
If Lloyd and Zavia McPhee are able to dominate in front of goal, the Saints could record a second win for the season.
For this to occur, the likes of Luke Jackson, Gregor Knight and Dylan Pascoe will need to control proceedings in the middle of the ground – a difficult prospect when battling Brad Ladson, Matt Ladson and Brent O’Hanlon.
The home side will rely on Brett Collins and Chris Wilson to hit the scoreboard, with Ash Davis to take on Collins.
Macorna defeated Quambatook by 27 points when the teams met in round four last season, with the Saints winning by the same margin in round 13.
PREDICTION: Macorna will win by 10 points.
Dominance to continue
COMPETITION leaders, Ultima will aim to record a sixth consecutive victory tomorrow when the reigning premiers travel to Moulamein.
Jack O’Rourke’s men have not dropped a game since the club’s opening round loss to Macorna, and will look to remain one win clear on top of the ladder tomorrow with a seventh consecutive win against the Swans.
Ultima defeated Hay by 12 points two weeks ago, with the Swans almost ending its 25-game losing streak at Quambatook.
Tomorrow’s challenge will be much greater for the Swans, with Xavia Elford, Austin Mertz and Ben Booth to take on a midfield dominated by some of the competition’s top players.
If Jacob Schaper, Tom Bull and Tom Isma dominate in the middle of the ground, Brendan Blackmore and his fellow Swans defenders will be no match for Basil Althouse and Kyle Brassser.
Michael Morson – who kicked two goals in the Swans’ loss at Quambatook – will finds things harder against the likes of Luke Kelson and Nathan Condely.
Ultima won by at least 70 points in each of the past six occasions these teams have met. This pattern will continue tomorrow.
PREDICTION: Ultima will win by 70 points.
