ONE of the Golden Rivers Football League’s in-form teams will aim to go into the Queen’s Birthday break with a two-win advantage over sides battling for fourth spot on the ladder.
Murrabit will go into tomorrow’s round eight match against Nullawil as strong favourites on the back of four consecutive wins.
The Blues defied a recent poor effort at Hay last weekend to win by 25 points, whilst the fourth-placed Maroons conceded the final nine goals of its match against Wandella to go down by 56 points.
“During the last seven games last season we won one game, so to have five wins from our first seven matches this year is great,” Murrabit coach, Nathan Henry said.
“We need to work hard now to ensure it continues.”
One of the Blues’ keys to reclaiming its status as one of the competition’s top teams has been the return to form of Henry.
The forward has kicked at least five goals in his past four games, and is on track to emulate his efforts of 2009 and 2011, when he kicked 72 goals and 70 goals respectively.
“To be honest my form is just the result of a midfield that is performing well. Also having other avenues to goal through our midfield, who average one to two goals a game, and Stan Ward, who has kicked 17, helps the structure,” Henry said.
Maroons defender, Jarrod Kemp will be given the role to try to contain Henry, who did not play in Nullawil’s 39-point win against the Blues in round one.
The Maroons’ forward line received a boost last weekend with the return of Andrew Oberdorfer, with the centre half-forward’s presence providing assistance for Kal Heslop.
Dylan Morison will be favourite to go to Heslop, with Matt Penny to battle with Oberdorfer.
However, one key match-up will determine the outcome of this game. If the Blues can repeat Wandella’s efforts last week and shut Daniel Watts out of the game, a potential two-game gap between the top three and fourth on the ladder will emerge.
Yet if Watts and Matt Harrop can get on top of the Blues’ ball-winners, led by Bryden Morison, the Maroons and Blues will be separated by percentage going into the second half of the season.
“Watts has been in best on six to seven times this year, and Scott Mathiske is damaging in the midfield and forward line,” Henry said.
PREDICTION: Murrabit will win by 20 points.
Tigers’ repeat effort?
MACORNA will aim to defeat competition leaders, Ultima for a second time this season when the Tigers host the reigning premiers tomorrow.
The Tigers stunned the 2014 and 2015 premiers in the opening round, with its new recruits and key players from last season uniting to produce a 16-point win.
Both clubs have experienced opposite fortunes since round one, with the ‘Roos recording six consecutive wins and the Tigers falling from competition leaders in round three to fifth after seven rounds following three consecutive losses.
Macorna’s 56-point win against Quambatook last weekend was the club’s first victory since April 23, and the home side will be aiming to add to its strong home record tomorrow.
The return of Tigers coach, Wayne Mitrovic will be pivotal to Macorna’s hopes, with the utility set to return after missing the past four rounds due to a hamstring injury.
Mitrovic will be needed to stop Ultima utility, Brenton Pay – who did not play in the round one encounter – from dominating across the half-back line and midfield.
If Brett O’Hanlon plays a similar midfield role to what he did in the opening round, he will be pivotal to stopping Ultima midfielders Jacob Schaper and Tom Bull from controlling proceedings.
Brett Collins will also need to fire for the home side, with the ‘Roos to place Luke Kelson on the key forward.
Basil Althouse looms as a danger player for the visitors, with Jordan Simpson and his fellow defenders needing to stop the spearhead to dominate in front of goal.
The ‘Roos defeated Macorna by five points in a high-scoring affair when they last travelled to the Tigers’ home ground in 2015. Another close match is on the cards.
PREDICTION: Ultima will win by 10 points.
Danger signs for Saints
QUAMBATOOK travels to Wandella tomorrow needing a win to make the finals for a second consecutive season.
Last season’s grand finalists are seventh on the ladder with one win so far in 2016, and could be four wins outside the top four tomorrow, depending on the result of the Murrabit v Nullawil match.
Steve Reeves’ men were no match for Macorna last weekend, going down by 56 points, whilst the Bombers defeated Nullawil by the same margin.
Although the Saints boast a strong forward line, led by Zavia McPhee and James Lloyd, as well as the nucleus of its 2015 midfield – Gregor Knight, Dylan Pascoe and Luke Jackson – the side has not been able to match those who have improved during the pre-season.
Wandella is one of the those sides who is on track to go from sitting outside the top four in 2015 to a premiership contender this year, and will be eager to repeat its round one efforts, which resulted in a 112-point win.
If an upset result is to occur, Ash Davis will need to prevent Bombers coach, Paul Grayling from dominating in front of goal, with Knight, Pascoe and Jackson having to prevent Daniel Baker, Greg Dickson and Dillan Treacy from getting the ball in the middle of the ground.
Tim Robinson will be asked to battle Lloyd across Quambatook’s half-forward line, with Michael Bott to battle McPhee.
PREDICTION: Wandella will end Quambatook’s finals hopes with a 60-point win.
Lions to respond
HAY will look to keep in touch with the top four with a victory against the winless Moulamein tomorrow.
The Lions went down to Murrabit by 25 points last weekend, whilst the Swans only managed three goals for the match in their 104-point loss to Ultima.
Hay won by 90 points in round one, and another one-sided affair could occur again tomorrow if Moulamein cannot contain Taylor Williamson and Daniel Edwards in front of goal.
The Swans missed Brendan Blackmore’s leadership in the back third of the ground last weekend, and the defender’s presence will be needed tomorrow to prevent another blowout from occurring.
Ben Booth will be one of the key players for the visitors, with his duel against Jackson Ferguson or Justin Ellis pivotal to the result.
Xavia Elford and Lions recruit, Michael Dedini will battle it out in the middle of the ground, but Hay – which has won the past five games against the Swans – will have too many on-field options to control proceedings.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by 70 points.
