LAKE BOGA v TYNTYNDER
3SH CENTRAL MURRAY LIVE
LAKE Boga will be without key player Braden Padmore for tomorrow’s must-win match against Tyntynder.
Padmore has been among the best couple of players on the ground in all three of the Magpies’ wins this season and would have to be the clubhouse leader in Lake Boga’s best and fairest to this point.
His absence looks set to leave a massive hole in the Magpies’ midfield, which will be a key battle ground against a Bulldogs outfit which should hold an advantage around the stoppages with Bailey Reeves, Charlie Ford and Darcy Bibby all strong ball winners for the visitors.
Tyntynder will be disappointed to have let last week’s match against arch-rivals Swan Hill slip, with their wasteful disposal inside 50 combined with their inability to handle the inclement conditions all key factors in the loss.
Their disposal efficiency going inside 50 will have been an area of focus during the week, with the Bulldogs needing to give key forward Elia Ware better looks at the ball if they are to come out on top tomorrow.
If they can clean up that area of their game, and if ruckman Josh Potter is able to control roam a kick behind unchecked, then an upset could well be on the cards.
Tip – Tyntynder to win by five points.
KERANG v NNW UNITED
KERANG will be keen to avenge their defeat in last year’s grand final when they play Nyah-Nyah West United for the first time since the decider tomorrow afternoon.
Kerang will have a vastly different look to the team that fell to the Demons by 54 points that day, with just players seven remaining from their grand final side.
But while the Blues may be a different outfit, it would be their 25-point loss to Tyntynder last round that would be most concerning ahead of tomorrow’s match, with the Bulldogs simply hungrier and determined.
The young and developing Blues will need to rediscover that hunger tomorrow, especially with the Demons set to welcome back three of their missing premiership stars to the team which defeated the Mallee Eagles.
Ethan Curran and Max Thompson will return from Pioneers duties, while ruckman Brodie Larkings will also come into NNW United’s line-up.
The news isn’t all good for the Demons however with Brayden Bigham (ankle) and Charlie Boulton (jaw) set to not only miss tomorrow’s match, but also miss the next month.
Bigham and Boulton’s absence will leave a big gap for NNW United to fill, with their speed and ability to break the lines one of the key features of the Demons’ game.
Although Kerang have enough talent to trouble the reigning premiers, their depth may prove to be a problem against a Demons outfit who look to have returned to their devastating best before the bye.
Tip – NNW United to win by 24 points.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v BALRANALD
AFTER three straight losses, Tooleybuc-Manangatang will be hoping to turn their season around when they host Balranald tomorrow afternoon.
The Saints will head out to Manangatang for the first time this season where a big crowd is sure to await them ahead of what has now become a must-win game for the club.
After starting the year as one of the teams expected to push for finals, the Saints’ form has been patchy at best, with big losses to those teams above them on the ladder combined with thumpings to those clubs below them.
The Roos will be forced to make one change, with Brad Hartman injuring his hamstring against the Magpies a fortnight ago, with Will Lowry expected to return for the visitors.
With Balranald winning just one of their first seven matches and now finding themselves on the bottom of the Central Murray ladder, logic would suggest that Tooleybuc-Manangatang should have too much class to drop this one.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by 30 points.
SWAN HILL v COHUNA
DESPITE breaking through for their first win of the season last Saturday, Swan Hill will be at long odds to make it back-to-back wins when they host Cohuna tomorrow afternoon.
The Swans will be without Michael Hurley and Xavier Moloney, who came into the team for one-off appearances last weekend, while youngsters Taj McMillan, Sonny Beasy, Buol Majur, Bodhi Kelly and Wil Bennett will also be missing from last week’s side.
The Kangas are also expected to make some changes to the team which accounted for Tooleybuc-Manangatang by 51 points a fortnight ago, with Daniel Coates (hamstring) joining key forward Corbin Anderson on the side lines.
The good news for Cohuna is that Jackson Williams and Riley Hird are both set to return from injury to help bolster an already imposing midfield.
Tom Toma, Joel Helman and Ricky Monti couldn’t have been more impressive against the Saints, with the trio showing why Cohuna are considered to have the most dangerous engine room in the competition.
Add Jack Geary into the mix, who was also found plenty of the ball on his return from injury against the Saints, and the Kangas should prove far too good for the Swans.
Tip – Cohuna to win by 60 points.
