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 (4-2) v Norwood (5-1)

In the Match of the Round, the North Adelaide Rockets will attempt to bounce back from consecutive losses when they host the Norwood Flames.

The Rockets began the year with five straight wins, but have lost to 2014 Grand Finalists West and Woodville within the space of a week.

The Flames have completed five straight victories, with their latest success coming at Sturt.

The Rockets-Flames series finished 1-1 last year, with the away team triumphant on both occasions.

 

South (2-5) v Eastern (0-5)

The South Adelaide Panthers will be gunning for a third win in succession when they welcome the Eastern Mavericks to Marion.

The Panthers appeared to be heading in the direction of the Wooden Spoon when they dropped to 0-5, but after defeating a couple of 2014 playoff teams in Centrals and Forestville, the Panthers are closing in on the top five.

Their revival should be taken on board by the Mavericks, who have lost all five of the games they have featured in.

The series between these teams was split 1-1 last season, as the Mavericks squared things up at Marion in Round 16.

 

Southern Tigers (1-4) v West Adelaide Bearcats (4-2)

The Southern Tigers will chase their first home win of the season when they host the West Adelaide Bearcats.

The Tigers have just the one victory so far, which came on the road against the Eastern Mavericks.

The Bearcats are 4-2, having hung on grimly to beat the Rockets in their most recent game.

The Bearcats have a strong recent record at Morphett Vale, and swept their 2014 series with the Tigers.

 

Woodville Warriors (5-1) v Sturt Sabres (2-3)

The Sturt Sabres will need to cause an upset against the in-form Woodville Warriors to avoid a fourth straight loss.

The Sabres won their opening two matches, but defeats to West, Forestville and Norwood have seen them fall down the ladder.

The Warriors have lost just once so far, which was against the Rockets in Round 2. They well and truly put that game behind them when they blew out the Rockets on Wednesday.

The Sabres have historically dominated the Warriors, although it was the Warriors who swept the head-to-head series last year.

 

Forestville Eagles (4-2) v Central District Lions (1-3)

The Central District Lions will try to get their season back on track when they visit the Forestville Eagles.

The Lions, like 2014, have started 1-3. They went on a six game winning streak from Rounds 5-10 last year, and will need a similar run if they are to feature in the postseason for a third successive season.

Like the Lions, the Eagles’ most recent result is a loss to South Adelaide. Unlike the Lions, the Eagles have begun 2015 in positive fashion, sitting 4-2 after six matches.

The Eagles and Lions tied their series 1-1 last year, with the home team taking the honours in each meeting.