by Jim Gordon
Jeparit Rainbow v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers
In what has turned out to be a very tough year for Jeparit Rainbow things don’t get any easier with a home game against a side ready to consolidate a top two finish and prepare for finals football. Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers are a model of consistency. Each year they have given themselves a chance of adding to the 2009 premiership flag and this year will be no exception.
The Tigers are playing very good football. They are a tight and well disciplined unit prepared to run and carry at every opportunity. Simon Weekly is in match winning form, Cliff Ryan is well up in the MFL goal kicking and four time Best and Fairest winner Col Durie just keeps getting the ball and even better, he always uses it to his side’s advantage. Throw in onballers Darcy Ryan and Andy Roberts, Luke Martin in defence and young ruckman Dan McEwan and you have a side well capable of handling the very best that the Lakers can muster.
It will be a tough game for Jeparit Rainbow. They will need to get some of last week’s missing players back just to be competitive. Josh McCleary, Ryan Bulluss, Adam Schulz and Joel Schulze all missed last week, diminishing their big man strength and weakening their defence. The Lakers had to play reserves ruckman Kris Paech due to Joel Schulze and Josh McCleary missing.
One very poor quarter of football cost the Lakers last week in their loss to the Cats. They competed hard in the other three quarters. Their lack of quality forwards and outright star players hurts each week.
Heath Clugston and Chris Meyer just keep giving everything. Tough midfield/forward Nathan Millard from Darwin has played well over the last few weeks once he adjusted to Mallee football. Elliot Bath is a good ball winner and has performed well in the games he has played.
Last week the Laker defence battled hard considering that they were undersized. Luke Werner, Lucas Edelsten and Chris Farrell all tried to run the ball out.
This game is too important for the Tigers to go easy on the Lakers and they should have a comfortable win, even away from home.
Hopetoun v Ouyen United
The last time these two sides met, Ouyen United had a big seven goal victory over the Devils. Henry Armour was the star that day, Damien Cupidio kicked seven and Laurence Angwin was a winner. Since then the Demons have not really progressed, rather they have just marked time, whilst Hopetoun has gone from bad to worse.
United has far more to play for. A good win and a big loss to the Cats against Beulah sees Ouyen United in with a chance of playing finals football. It will depend upon the final round when the Dees come up against Jeparit Rainbow whilst Woomelang Lascelles play the rampant Roos.
This all sounds enticing, but Ouyen United were very disappointing against Woomelang Lascelles two weeks ago when they had the chance to cement a spot in the four. After a good first term they were comprehensively outplayed by a side that clearly wanted to win more than United.
Ouyen United need to be very wary of Hopetoun. The Devils would love to finish off their season with a win over the Dees and they have the players to do it. Zac Robins has had a great season in defence, Luke Carr is an outstanding footballer, Bryce Wellington could get on top of an undersized Ouyen United defence and Cade Wellington is one Devil who tries hard week in week out. Throw in Deek Roberts, Kyle George and Liam Price and you have the makings of a possible upset.
If Ouyen United has any pride at all, they won’t let this game get away from them. The Demons will be all out for a big win whilst keeping an eye on the scoreboard to see how the Cats are going against the Blues.
Beulah v Woomelang Lascelles
In the match of the day, Woomelang Lascelles need a win to cement their spot in the final four and Beulah need a win after a deflating loss to Walpeup Underbool last week.
The Cats are on a roll after three wins in a row and sitting comfortably in fourth spot, two wins and healthy percentage break over Ouyen United. A win against the Blues will be just reward for the rejuvenated Cats. They are playing a very good brand of football with pace to burn in the midfield and an attack lead by Jayden Lonergan at centre half forward and Aaron Lonergan at full forward.
Corey Kelly is in top form at the moment. He wins a lot of the ball in the midfield and can then go forward and kick goals. Nyaburu Kelly plays a similar role for the Cats giving them a potent on ball brigade. Trent Donnan does a lot of the hard bullocking work across half back running forward and Joel Donnan kept Damien Cupido quiet two weeks ago.
In the enviable position of having no injuries to report after their big win over the Lakers, Woomelang Lascelles will be strengthened by the return of Jamie Church. Pierce Liddle is a chance to be available after missing the past couple of weeks.
Beulah has a lot of talent all over the ground. Dennis Redden has had a wonderful season up forward, Callum and Micah Buchanan give them pace around the packs and last week Tim McIntosh was a handful for the Roos on the wing and Tyler Lehman was good in the midfield.
It would be a huge scalp for Woomelang :Lascelles to claim in the lead up to the finals. Beulah will be tough to beat after their loss against Walpeup Underbool and have too much to lose if they go down twice in a row. Beulah to win after one hell of a fight from the Cats.
Last Modified on 11/08/2013 13:34