GOLDEN Rivers Football League Round 6 action is on tomorrow.
Tigers v Maroons
NULLAWIL will be aiming to go into the interleague break as the only undefeated side in the competition when the Maroons travel to Macorna tomorrow.
The Maroons extended their 2014 record to 4-0 with an 87-point win against Wandella last week, while the Tigers lost their second consecutive match thanks to a 74-point loss to Ultima.
The Maroons’ 2014 success has come about due to the two-pronged goalkicking combination of Sean Bedggood and Kal Heslop.
These two players kicked eight of Nullawil’s 17 goals tomorrow and the likes of Mathew Trigg and company will be eager not to see this happen again.
The Tigers also have a number of key forward options, thanks to the likes of Daniel Coates and James Curnow.
One player the Tigers would want as part of this group is Michael Rowe but a knee injury will keep him out of action until later this season.
The Maroons will rely on Brett Barker and his fellow defenders to stop the Tigers — who have a strong home-ground advantage against Nullawil — from bringing last year’s preliminary finalists in a five-way battle for top spot on the ladder.
Saints v Hawks
TWO of last season’s key forwards Quambatook’s Paul Messer and Wakool’s Luke Kirkland might renew acquaintances tomorrow.
The Saints and Hawks have won three games this season but the Saints have one game in hand.
Both sides are looking for their third consecutive win of the season, with victory to leave one of these teams in the top four going into the interleague break.
The Saints won both times when these teams met last year, with Messer moving from in front of his goals to curtail Kirkland — who booted seven goals last week — in one of these matches.
If Messer stays in his forward 50, Luke Parker will get the role of stopping Kirkland, while Ashley Neal will stick with Messer.
One of the most intriguing match-ups will be the midfield battle between Wakool coach Locky Gleeson and young Saint Jack Baker, while former AFL footballer Paul Wheatley and new Quambatook recruit Dylan McGrath will clash across the Hawks’ half-forward line.
Roos v Blues
ULTIMA sits second on the GRFL ladder and can record its fourth consecutive win of the season with victory against Murrabit tomorrow.
An 11-goal second quarter set up last weekend’s 74-point win against Macorna, with Jarrod Rogers continuing his fine form in front of goal.
The Blues lost to Wakool by 46 points last round and another defeat tomorrow will leave Nathan Henry’s men with a 1-4 record going into the break.
Ultima has won the past two encounters between these sides and another win tomorrow will depend on how Luke O’Toole’s men contain James Murphy and Henry in front of the home team’s goals.
Murphy, who has kicked 13 goals in the past two games, will have to contend with Joshua Chaplin, with Henry and Brenton Pay to go head-to-head.
Down the other end of the ground, Matt Angel or Nick Hein will go to Rogers.
In the middle of the ground, Kalon Wilkins will be given a run-with role against tall Blue Josh Dwyer, while O’Toole and Simon Morton will battle it out at most stoppages.
Bombers v Lions
WANDELLA will look to bounce back from two consecutive losses when the Bombers host Hay tomorrow.
The improving Bombers outfit was no match for last year’s finalists Nullawil and Ultima during the past two weeks, with a win tomorrow set to give the side a 3-3 record going into the break.
However, tomorrow will be the Lions’ best chance to record a second win of the season, with Peter Lewis’ men having to contend with Wakool, the Maroons and Roos following round one.
If tall Lion Justin Ellis is right to play his match-up with either Joel Osbrough or Bombers coach Blake Anderson will be critical to the outcome of the game.
Wandella will be looking to kick more goals than the four majors registered last weekend, with the likes of Troy Banfield, Lachie Bott and Callaghan Gray to have a day out if not contained.
For Hay, the likes of Simon Bunyan and Patrick Jubb will need to inspire their side to end a 15-match losing streak against the Bombers.
