LAKE BOGA v WOORINEN
WOORINEN will regain the services of key players Taylor Cameron, Ben Booth and Tom Langford for Saturday’s clash against Lake Boga.
The trio missed the Tigers’ 105-point win over Tyntynder back in round 15, with their return timed perfectly ahead of a meeting against a resurgent Magpies team that will be intent on continuing to shape this year’s finals series.
Although Lake Boga won’t play finals this season, they have certainly had an impact following their 23-point win over Koondrook-Barham last Saturday, with the Raiders now a very real chance to miss out on fifth place as a consequence.
With Woorinen needing to win their final two games to lock away top spot, Saturday’s match now looms as a danger game for the Tigers despite the 135-point margin between the clubs back in round 6.
While Cameron, Booth and Langford will return for Woorinen, Lake Boga ruckman Hunter Hartland is in doubt with a corked thigh.
Hartland’s potential absence would be a major blow for the Magpies, with a combination of Braden Padmore, Bryce Anderson and Rex Hickman likely to do battle against Lachlan Gardner.
The other option is to recall young ruckman Kai Everett, which could be the preferred option given the importance of Padmore to Lake Boga’s midfield who will be faced with the unenviable task of quelling Henry Thompson, Jye Barry and Jose Miliado.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 54 points
KERANG v COHUNA
COHUNA will be aiming for their sixth straight win when they face off against arch rivals Kerang at Riverside Park on Saturday.
Although the Kangas have risen to second on the ladder following their four-point win over the Mallee Eagles last weekend, it also came at a significant cost, with dual Jack Betts medallist Joel Helman injuring his knee in the opening quarter.
Helman will miss the remainder of the season as a result and is sure to be a massive loss for Cohuna and their push to break their premiership drought, especially up forward where he and Tom Toma have regularly rotated.
Brenton Conforti will return for his first match since the Kangas round 9 win over Swan Hill, with coach Jack Geary also a chance to play his first game in almost two months.
Conforti and Geary will help bolster Cohuna’s defence, which was impressive in holding the Eagles, who are the number one scoring team this season, to just six goals.
That form augers well for Saturday’s contest, with Kerang lacking the same calibre of forwards as the Eagles, although Zak Bozanich (29 goals) has proven himself to be a dangerous target at time for the Blues.
The real challenge is likely to come through the midfield for Kerang however, with the Blues’ young and developing onballers taking on the Kangas’ engine room, which dominated around the stoppages thanks to Chris Anderson last weekend.
Tip – Cohuna to win by 48 points.
MALLEE EAGLES v BALRANALD
THE Mallee Eagles will be without three key players as they attempt to return to the winners list when they host Balranald Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles will be without Beau Bennett and Ethan Pinchen for their clash with the Roos after the pair injured hamstrings in their four-point loss to Cohuna last Saturday.
Troy Anderson will also miss Saturday’s match, while in-form defender Clinton Cummins will need to pass an overnight fitness test to be declared fit to play.
Cummins absence will be a loss for Mallee, who are already without key defenders Joe Halloran and Zac O’Meara, although the news isn’t all bad for the home side with Shaun Harrison expected to return from injury
With Ben Fuller kicking seven goals for Balranald against NNW United last weekend, Tom McGregor is expected to be given the job of quelling the Roos’ spearhead.
His task could be made easier if the Eagles get on top around the stoppages and at the contest through the midfield, with Darcy McGregor, Harry Allen, Brent Macleod, Brett Thomas and Brady Fordham all enjoying strong seasons.
While the Roos have enough class with the likes of Cody Henness, Ryan Middlebrook and Jack Salau, they will also be without Tanner Coulthard, Roarke Smith and Lachlan Bence.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 72 points.
NNW UNITED v TYNTYNDER
SATURDAY’S match against Tyntynder will be Nyah-Nyah West United’s final dress rehearsal before their elimination final bout in a fortnight’s time.
With the Demons enjoying the bye next weekend, the match against the Bulldogs will be their last opportunity to return to playing their attacking brand of footy, which has slowly started to reappear in recent wins over Balranald and Koondrook-Barham.
NNW United will welcome Patrick Veszpremi back into their line-up, while Tyntynder’s Cayden Crowe is also expected to return for the visitors, with the pair potentially lining up on each other in the Bulldogs’ back half.
Veszpremi has helped transform the Demons’ forward half since his mid-season arrival having kicked 17 goals in his five games in red and blue.
On the other hand, scoring has been Tyntynder’s Achilles heel this season, having averaged just over 44 points per game in 2025 and with Elia Ware (23 goals) playing a lone hand in attack as the only player to kick double figures for the Bulldogs.
With Joel Walsh back in the Demons’ line-up, scoring isn’t expected to be much easier on Saturday either.
Tip – NNW United to win by 60 points.
