KOONDROOK/BARHAM’S goal to stay in contention for the Central Murray Football Netball League minor premiership will be tested again tomorrow against a side that has a strong record against the border side.
The Raiders will host Woorinen tomorrow in the match between the competition’s third and sixth-placed sides.
Both teams suffered losses last weekend, with the Raiders’ eight-match winning streak ending against Nyah-Nyah West United, whilst the Tigers went down to Lake Boga by 25 points.
The result of this match will impact on the finals hopes of both sides going into the final eight rounds of the season.
If the Raiders win, the side will be at least third on the ladder, depending on the result of the Lake Boga v Kerang and Mallee Eagles v Nyah-Nyah West matches, with the Tigers to fall as low as seventh if Tooleybuc/Manangatang defeats Swan Hill.
Woorinen could be outside the top five thanks to percentage if the Tigers win, whilst the Raiders will be one win off top spot if the side loses its second consecutive game.
Daniel Mowat was kept goalless in last weekend’s 68-point loss to the Demons, and the Raiders need the forward to dominate tomorrow if a ninth win of the season is to occur.
Joel Donnan will be given the role to stop Mowat, with Aaron Cadd to take on the Raiders’ Jake Hare.
Zac Hare and Tom Lamb will be pivotal in the middle of the ground for the Raiders, but face the challenge of battling Danny Stone and William Watson, with the quartet set to benefit from the ruck duel between Rhett Sutton (Koondrook/Barham) and Arnold Kirby (Woorinen).
Matt Dean will need to stop Doug Palmer from dominating in front of goal for the visitors, whilst Shane Guerra will try to set up numerous forward 50 entries by sweeping the ball across the home side’s half-back line.
Woorinen won by six points in round six last season as well as by five points in round 17, before the Raiders prevailed by 10 points in the first semi-final. Another close match is certain tomorrow.
PREDICTION: Koondrook/Barham will win by 10 points.
