TYNTYNDER v KERANG
AFTER a competitive 15-point loss to Kerang in round 2, Tyntynder will be hoping to claim the four points this time when they host the reigning premiers at the Alan Garden Reserve.
In a low-scoring contest, the Bulldogs were able to fight back in the last quarter with three unanswered goals, but simply left themselves too much to do against a Kerang outfit that were desperate to win their first match of the season.
Since then, the Blues are yet to taste defeat, although the Mallee Eagles were able to hold them to a draw in round 6.
The reigning premiers sit second on the ladder and are waiting to pounce on any mistake by ladder leaders NNW United.
The biggest challenge facing Tyntynder will be in the midfield, where the Blues have the class and depth to test the Bulldogs onballers.
Roy George has been in sensational form this season and will be a player to watch for the visitors, while Marcus Wattie, Brock Storer and Ben Hallam can turn a game off their own boots.
The question is whether they have the depth to run with the deep Kerang midfield, that contains genuine stars Josh Nitschke, Marty Kelly, Josh Hann, Sam Heavyside and Bradlee Pay.
Throw in small forwards Sean Hunter and Jarryd Pertzel, who looks set to return from injury this week, and the Blues look to have just a touch too much class for the Bulldogs on paper.
Tip – Kerang to win by 18 points.
BALRANALD v LAKE BOGA
LAST year’s grand finalists Balranald will be aiming to turn their stuttering season around when they host Lake Boga at Greenham Park.
The Roos are suffering a turnaround in form of their own, having lost three of their past four matches and now clinging to fourth position on the ladder.
Compounding their woes is the absence of co-coach Jydon Neagle, expected to spend considerable time on the sidelines with a quad strain, further testing the Roos’ quality and depth around the ground.
Also set to miss will be Jack Salau and Jackson Ferguson, while the Magpies will go in with an unchanged line-up.
Although Lake Boga were found wanting against the reigning premiers a fortnight ago, they have taken considerable steps forward across the season, their young players showing an ability to take the game on with a fast-running, attacking game style.
That augers well for an attacking contest, as the Roos still have big guns Matthew and Jaxon Neagle, Drew and Kobe Lloyd and Colin Andrews at their disposal.
While the Magpies have the potential to cause an upset, the Roos are deserved favourites and should claim their seventh win of the season.
Tip – Balranald to win by 20 points.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v SWAN HILL
WITH a spot in the top five at stake, Tooleybuc-Manangatang will leave nothing to chance when they host Swan Hill in the first match at Manangatang this season.
The Saints returned to form in a big way with a 46-point win over Woorinen last start, but now face the prospect of having to regain their form, having not played for three weeks.
The Swans will go in confident having finally broken through for their first win of the season against Koondrook-Barham.
With Tooleybuc-Manangatang expected to be below full strength, the Swans could very well find themselves in the frame to make it two wins on the trot.
The big challenge for Swan Hill will be in stopping in-form forward Josh Williams, who kicked eight goals against the Tigers in a best-on-ground display and looms as the danger man again thanks to the Swans’ lack of key defenders.
If Swan Hill are to challenge, they will have to get it done out of the middle, with big games needed from Cooper Angus, Luke Phelan and Michael Herlihy against the talented Tooleybuc-Manangatang midfield, who have been well served by ruckman Connor McDonald this season.
While Saturday is a definite danger game for the home side, the Saints will be desperate to win their first match at Manangatang and continue their push towards September, and should get the job done.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by 15 points.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v COHUNA
COHUNA will be aiming to keep their slim finals hopes alive with a percentage-boosting win when they take on Koondrook-Barham.
The Kangas have slowly started to find form, with consecutive wins over Lake Boga and Balranald followed a competitive performance against reigning premiers Kerang in round 9.
But while Jack Geary’s men appear to have turned a corner, they still find themselves two wins and percentage behind fifth-placed Woorinen and needing to win every game for the remainder of the season to reach the magical 10-win mark to make finals a near-certainty.
With that in mind, the Kangas can ill-afford to be complacent against the Raiders, who despite finding themselves in a 27-game losing streak, have also shown themselves to be competitive at home with hard-fought losses to leading contenders Balranald, Woorinen and the Mallee Eagles over the past six rounds.
Returning for the Raiders will be Kye Attwell and Lachlan Vagg from injury, with Peter Lewis, Brayden Turvey and Lachlan Laursen the confirmed outs, with Attwell having been one of Koondrook-Barham’s better players back in round 2 when the two clubs last met.
That day ended in a 70-point win for Cohuna, with Joel Helman running amok kicking five goals from the midfield. The former Jack Betts Medallist is again expected to be a thorn in the side of the Raiders.
Tip – Cohuna to win by 30 points.
