By James Woite

 

SPIRIT MEDALS

In each Premier League game on Anzac Day a ‘Spirit Medal’ will be awarded to the player who best exemplifies the Anzac spirit – skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play.

 

North Adelaide Rockets (5-1) v Norwood Flames (6-0)

In the Match of the Season thus far, the Norwood Flames will attempt to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they visit the North Adelaide Rockets.

No one has got close to the Flames so far, not even the Sturt Sabres, who beat the Flames twice last season. The Flames beat the Sabres by 25 points last round.

The Rockets were unbeaten, prior to their disappointing defeat to Woodville on Wednesday. The Rockets’ seven point loss made it a 41 point turnaround from their defeat of the Warriors in Round 2.

The Flames won two of their three meetings with the Rockets in 2015, although the Rockets’ one victory was the most important of the three. The Rockets defeated the Flames in the Preliminary Final.

 

South Adelaide Panthers (2-5) v Eastern Mavericks (2-3)

The Eastern Mavericks will be playing for a fourth win this season when they visit the recovering South Adelaide Panthers.

The Mavericks rallied late for a win over Forestville in their last game, improving to 3-2.

The Panthers have won two in a row, following five straight losses to start the year.

The Panthers won both matches with the Mavericks last season.

 

Southern Tigers (2-3) v West Adelaide Bearcats (1-5)

The Southern Tigers can get back to .500 with a win over the West Adelaide Bearcats.

The Tigers lost to Woodville last round, but have shown signs of improvement, after battling to be competitive in the past couple of seasons.

The Bearcats have lost four consecutive matches, but came as close as possible to beating the reigning premiers North last week.

The Bearcats thrashed the Tigers both times last season.

 

Woodville Warriors (4-2) v Sturt Sabres (4-1)

A win of the Sturt Sabres would make it four victories in succession for the emerging Woodville Warriors.

The Warriors staked their claim as a legitimate finals contender by defeating North Adelaide in their last match. A win over the other 2014 Grand Finalist would put them into the top three for %won at the end of the round.

The Sabres won their first four, before being blown out at home to Norwood for their first loss of the season.

The Warriors were unable to defeat the Sabres in 2014.

 

Forestville Eagles (1-5) v Central District Lions (0-4)

One of the Forestville Eagles and Central District Lions will have lost five games in succession come the end of ANZAC Day.

The Eagles came away victorious both times against the Lions last season.

The Eagles lost to South by 19 on Wednesday, only a few days after the Lions lost to South by 25.

The small discrepancy in these margins of defeat suggests the Lions could be in with a chance of earning their first victory since 2013.