QUAMBATOOK v WANDELLA
QUAMBATOOK will host Wandella in the Golden Rivers match of the round this weekend – with Saturday’s contest set to be a potential finals preview.
Quambatook (second) are two games and percentage clear of Wandella (third), meaning the result of Saturday’s match is unlikely to change the ladder order, however both clubs will be desperate for bragging rights – and the boost of confidence that will bring – should they meet again at the pointy end of the season.
The last time both teams met was in round 7, with the Bombers surprising the Saints with a 17-point victory after jumping out of the blocks with a dominant first term. Quambatook fought back in the last quarter, but it was to no avail as Wandella refused to wilt.
The Bombers’ midfield stood up against the bigger-bodied Saints onballers, with Kane Timmins, Mitch Collins and Russell Rich opening up Quambatook on the outside of the contest and using their superior leg speed to blow the game apart.
If Saturday’s match is to go down a similar path, then the visitors will have to employ the same plan against a Quambatook outfit that has since taken their game to another level. The midfield battle will undoubtedly be where this match is won and lost, with both clubs not only having some high-class footballers that run through the centre, but also plenty of depth as well.
Adding to that depth will be Dillan Treacy, who is set to return from injury for his first match since their round 11 win over Macorna. Also returning for the Bombers will be Adam McKenzie, while Corey Walters and Kade Spencer are both in the frame to resume, pending fitness tests.
While the midfield battle will go a long way to determining the outcome of the game, so too will the performance of the back lines. Defence is the cornerstone of both clubs’ game plan. Both the Saints and Bombers are averaging less than 70 points against per game this season, but also possess a forward line capable of stretching each other’s defence.
Tim Robinson’s battle with Ash Murray looms as one such match-up. At the other end of the ground it’s Logan Keighran who holds the key to Wandella’s chances of kicking a wining score, with Jarred Schlitz most likely to get the job of quelling the Bombers coach.
With a finals-like atmosphere anticipated, a hard-fought contest with neither side giving an inch can be expected – and result likely to be decided very late in the afternoon.
Tip – Quambatook to win by 7 points.
HAY v MACORNA
MACORNA will be looking to keep their faint finals chances alive when they travel north to Hay.
The Tigers will still be licking their wounds after their 139-point thumping at the hands of Nullawil last weekend, while the Lions will also be on the rebound following their 64-point defeat to Moulamein seven days ago.
Finals are still a possibility for Macorna, however they need absolutely everything – including other results – to go their way. For Saturday, though, they simply need to focus on the four quarters and get the job done.
One area that shouldn’t be an issue for the Tigers will be their ability to score, with a forward line that contains coach Jaydon Stiles, Troy Parker, Chris Wilson, Josh Walters and swingman Lachlan Ritchie – one of the most potent in the competition on its day. Hay’s James Eddy will likely lock down on Stiles, but it still leaves the visitors with a plethora of forward options and avenues to goal.
Hay, on the other hand, are in the middle of rebuilding and, while they are showing signs of improvement, inconsistency is still an issue. They constantly have the same players standing up – Brad Pocock, Kenneth Jubb, Tim Zambon and Eddy – but really need to see more from the other members of the side. With that said, both Brait Headon and Kenneth Hargreaves had stepped up over the past fortnight and will need to be closely watched by the Macorna brains trust.
With finals still at stake – and with Hay seemingly putting the cue in the rack for 2022 – it should be the yellow-and-black brigade who are celebrating come 5pm.
Tip – Macorna to win by 24 points.
MURRABIT v ULTIMA
MURRABIT will host Ultima in a game that both clubs will be hoping to secure the four points – and get out of the dreaded wooden spoon territory.
Their round 7 encounter ended in a 49-point victory to Ultima – the Roos’ first of the season – with their cleaner foot skills and desperation to open their account dominating the second half with 12 goals to five.
Mitch Seton-Stewart was unstoppable that day for the Roos, as was Jamie Nicholas, with both players showing their class. The headache they provided the Blues last time won’t be an issue on Saturday, however, with Seton-Stewart out for the season with a knee injury and Nicholas missing last Saturday’s 88-point loss to Wandella.
The Roos’ injury worries don’t end there unfortunately, with Jayden Kiel (hamstring), Aydan Symons (knee) and Jack Delmenico (concussion) all under clouds following last weekend’s game and all rated no better than 50-50 prospects to line up against the Blues. It isn’t all bad news for the visitors though, small defender Lachie Edwards and utility Jacob Schaper both expected to return.
Murrabit will also have a number of changes to their team, with four impactful players set to return and don the royal-blue jumper after missing last Saturday’s 90-point defeat by Quambatook. Matt Penny and Tom Copland will both be available, while Toby Gray will also return from his shoulder injury sustained against Wandella in round 12.
Also set to resume is gun midfielder Marc O’Neill, who will likely be a straight swap for Cameron Hall, who tore his hamstring during last week’s loss and will miss the game.
With the quality of their inclusions and playing at home, Murrabit should go in as favourites – and rightly so.
Tip – Murrabit to win by 14 points.
MOULAMEIN v NULLAWIL
NULLAWIL will host Moulamein in a game set to give the Swans a very good guide as to exactly where they sit heading into their likely finals campaign.
Heath Moloney would have no doubt been well pleased with his side’s effort in their 65-point demolition of Hay last Saturday, with Moulamein’s form having fluctuated in the previous month. To say this game will be a step up in grade is an understatement, though, and one that will no doubt be a challenge for the indifferent Swans.
While a win would appear out of reach, the real focus for Moulamein needs to be on improving on their 93-point loss to the Maroons in round 7. The Nullawil midfield ran amok on that occasion – as they have for most of the season – while the Swans also had no answer for key forward Andrew Oberdorfer, who booted seven goals.
The scary aspect about that encounter for Moulamein is that they didn’t have to deal with Mitch Farmer, who missed with a hamstring. Farmer and Oberdorfer will both line up on Saturday to terrorise the Moulamein back line.
The other big issue facing the home side is how they negate the quality and depth that Nullawil possess through the midfield.
Daniel Watts, Matt Quigley, Grant Ford, Zac Kelly, Jonathan Casey, Jordan Humphreys, the list of impactful and damaging midfielders who can tear a game apart with their attack on the ball and sublime ball use goes on and on.
While the Swans should put in a much-improved effort on the round 7 encounter following their performance seven days ago, it won’t be enough to shock the Maroons, who should comfortably record win No.13.
Tip – Nullawil to win by 60 points.
