MALLEE EAGLES v WOORINEN
The Mallee Eagles will host Woorinen in this weekend’s Central Murray Football Netball League’s match-of-the-round.
There’s been significant recent history between both clubs and that is likely to go to another level after tomorrow’s game, with both teams’ seasons starting off in very different fashion – with the Eagles having taken all before them so far and sitting second on the ladder with a 3-0 winning record.
While the Mallee boys are sitting pretty at the pointy end of the competition, the same can’t be said for the two-time reigning premiers. Put simply, this game takes on must-win proportions for the Tigers, who have just one win to their name and are in danger of losing touch with the top five with another loss.
One area of Woorinen’s game that will need significant attention is their slow starts, with the Tigers yet to lead at quarter time in any game this season. Marcus Demaria’s men been slow out of the blocks in all three games and have been outscored by their opponents by 62 points in first quarters alone (22 points to 84).
Woorinen were competitive with Kerang after the first break last week and should improve with the inclusions of key forward Tom Eltringham and midfielder Nyawi Moore. The Tigers lacked a key target deep forward against the Blues last week and Eltringham’s return should help fill that void tomorrow.
It’s certainly not a problem that the Eagles can be accused of having, especially with the extraordinary form of their recruit Sam Dunstan, who has bagged twenty-five goals from his first three games in the blue and gold.
While he has been unstoppable to this point, it could also be argued that there is an unhealthy reliance starting to develop on their star full-forward, with Dunstan having kicked 50 per cent of the Mallee Eagles’ goals across the opening rounds. While it hasn’t been an issue so far, if an opposition side does manage to restrict the Eagles spearhead, it could well spell trouble if they are unable to find another avenue to goal in the coming weeks.
Harry Allen is expected to return in a further boost to the Eagles’ chances of victory, having missed last Saturday’s win with soreness – with the 2019 Jack Betts Medallist expected to slot straight back into the Mallee team’s engine room.
In what should be another classic encounter between these two sides, it could almost come down to which team handles the expected wet conditions the best as to finding a winner.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 4 points.
BALRANALD v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
Come 5pm Saturday evening, one of Balranald or Tooleybuc-Manangatang will have their first points of season 2022, with both clubs set to clash at Greenham Park tomorrow afternoon.
The Roos will come into the game fresh, having enjoyed the bye last weekend – while the Saints will be hoping for an improved performance after losing to Cohuna by 91 points.
While a 91-point loss is nothing to write home about, Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s effort was by all reports an improvement on their previous loss to Tyntynder – especially against one of the premiership favourites in the Kangas.
Unfortunately for Dean Helmers’ men, they will go into the must-win clash without both Ryan Regan and Alex Powell – with the latter having injured his hip against Cohuna. The Saints were well served last week by Ryan Connellan, Shylo Smith and Jack Spinks, with all three coming in for their first games of the season and making an immediate improvement to their team’s endeavour around the contest.
Tom Carland has had an outstanding start to the season and will take some stopping through the middle, while Shane Foley and Brayden Pitcher have both showed that Tooleybuc-Manangatang are starting to develop some depth through their on-ball division with which they can call on.
Balranald at home is always a difficult task – and so it should prove again tomorrow. The Roos will likely go in with a much similar side to the one that lost to Cohuna by 105 points before the Easter break, with the only possible change being the inclusion of Ben Fuller to the line-up.
Fuller is a vital cog in the Balranald set-up, with the key forward providing a strong target for his midfielders and half backs to target when going inside their attacking fifty – which they certainly missed in their round one loss to Tyntynder. If Fuller has recovered from his hamstring strain, you can expect Tooleybuc-Manangatang stopper Mitch Ferrie to be the one charged with trying to quell his influence.
Should Fuller not play, however, then the challenge will be thrown down to the home side to kick a score capable of beating the Saints. So far this season, the Roos have kicked just eight and nine goals from their two games, with the bulk of those coming from their midfielders.
Jydon Neagle is a class footballer and has already showed why he came to the club with massive wraps. Balranald have plenty of class through the midfield, with Colin Andrews, Cam Barrett and now Drew Lloyd all spending considerable time – along with Neagle – running through the centre.
With the possibility of wet conditions playing into the hands of the bigger, harder Balranald bodies – as well as being a three-goal better team at home – one can expect the Roos to be the ones bouncing up the ladder come Saturday evening.
Tip – Balranald to win by 20 points.
LAKE BOGA v NNW UNITED
Lake Boga will be attempting to make it four wins on the trot for the first time since 2003 – their last premiership-winning season – when they host the as-yet winless Nyah-Nyah West United this weekend.
The Magpies passed their first real test of 2022 with flying colours, accounting for Swan Hill by 32 points last Sunday – with a six-goal third quarter helping set up the win.
The Demons, on the other hand, have had a difficult start to the season, with Corey Daniels men yet to taste victory from their opening three games. With that in mind, United have faced Woorinen, Kerang and the Mallee Eagles – three teams who it’s expected will feature in the finals – with tomorrow’s game quite possibly their first real opportunity to secure the four points.
Co-coach Angus Monfries was the star last Sunday, booting 11 goals against the Swans in a stunning forward display. Monfries is a tough match-up for any defence – and the Demons will have to find a way to nullify his influence if they are to get the job done.
The easiest way could be limiting the supply from Boga’s midfield – which will be easier said than done. Both Josh and Matt Filo are ball -winning beasts that have quickly settled in to roving underneath ruckman Jacob Simpson, while John Harvey and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown are also capable of turning a game through the middle of the ground.
The Demons will welcome back Ethan Saville and Dean Harrop from injury, but will still be missing Corey Daniels for at least another week as he recovers from his round one hamstring injury.
While United’s intensity and pressure around the contest has been a big part of their game so far in 2022, it’s their disposal efficiency that has been letting them down and is the one area of their game they must clean up against the Magpies.
The other area of their game they have to improve is their ability to hit the scoreboard, having scored just six and seven goals in their past two matches. Admittedly, both games were against very good opposition, but with a player of the calibre of Brent Arho stationed deep, United have to give their key forward more looks at goal if they want to cause an upset.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by 15 points.
COHUNA KANGAS v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
The first night game of 2022 will take place at Cohuna tomorrow night, with the unbeaten Kangas hosting Koondrook-Barham.
Cohuna finds themselves sitting in third on the ladder as one of four undefeated teams – while the rebuilding Raiders secured their first points of the season with an upset eleven-point victory over Tyntynder last weekend.
While Koondrook-Barham will take a great deal of confidence from last Saturday’s game, this week will be an entirely different proposition against the all-conquering Kangas. The differences between the two teams are stark, especially when it comes to scoring ability. Cohuna are averaging 142 points per game across the opening three rounds – while the Raiders are at the opposite end of the spectrum and average just over 44 points a game. The return of Kye Attwell to their forward structure certainly made a difference last week and provided the Raiders midfield brigade with another strong target to hit up and should do so again tomorrow.
Josh Hale will return to the line-up this week and will most likely receive the unenviable task of restricting Rhys Free, who has been in ominous form with 18 goals so far – including a nine-goal haul against the Saints last week.
Joel Helman will be in some doubt to take his place tomorrow after injuring a hamstring seven days ago – and while he’ll be sorely missed if he doesn’t recover in time, the Kangas should have more than enough firepower to cover their prime mover.
Tom Toma has started the season in ominous form, as has Oscar Cooke and Sam McGlone – while Tyson Findlay is a class act that knows how to both win and use the footy.
Ben Archard was absent last Saturday, having been called up to Essendon’s VFL side – and in a boost to Koondrook-Barham’s chances, may well be missing again tomorrow. That will leave the ruck duties in the hands of Chris Anderson, who will have his hands full against the in-form Owen Uaongo.
While Koondrook-Barham may be on the improve, tomorrow’s task would appear to be a step too great for the developing Raiders.
Tip – Cohuna Kangas to win by 60 points.
