TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v COHUNA
THERE will likely be no second chances for the loser of Tooleybuc-Manangatang and Cohuna after their meeting at Manangatang this weekend.
The form of both clubs has taken some dramatic shifts this season, with the Saints one of the league’s most improved clubs in the first half of the season before dropping off in recent weeks in the absence of several star recruits.
The Kangas have gone the other way, with their 79-point win over the Mallee Eagles giving them their fifth-straight win and bringing them to the verge of climbing into the top five for the first time this season.
Cohuna are expected to have an unchanged line-up, while the Saints’ depth looks set to be further tested with the loss of midfielder Gareth Grant to a one-week suspension stemming from their 73-point loss to Kerang.
The Saints have the firepower up forward to challenge the Kangas, with Josh Williams among the league’s leading goalkickers on his day.
While William Lee is expected to get the job of quelling Williams, Cohuna’s midfield will likely have a bigger say on the contest, with Joel Helman, Jackson Williams, Jarrod Findlay and coach Jack Geary all dominating around the stoppages in recent weeks.
Although both teams have everything to play for, if the Kangas midfield are able to win the contested ball count, then it could be a long day for Saints supporters.
Tip – Cohuna to win by 14 points.
MALLEE EAGLES v NNW UNITED
THE Mallee Eagles will be aiming to bounce back after last Saturday’s shock loss to Cohuna when they host ladder leaders Nyah-Nyah West United.
Having fallen from the top three following their disappointing 79-point loss, the Eagles can ill-afford another defeat if they want to earn a double chance.
The performance was uncharacteristically poor from the Lalbert-based club, who were found out on the big open spaces of the Cohuna Recreation Reserve for a lack of outside run.
Although they will return to the smaller Lalbert Recreation Reserve, they will again be challenged by a team who prefers to play with speed, with the Demons renowned for attacking the game and spreading from the contest.
That spread hurt the Eagles in round 4, when the Demons kicked 18.1 after quarter-time to defeat the Eagles by 54 points.
A lot has changed since that game, however, with the Eagles losing just one of their nine games since.
However, they will have to reverse the result of their round 4 loss without Billy O’Meara, Brett Thomas, Zac O’Meara (hamstring) and Wes Bennett (ankle), all expected to miss through injury.
Clem Miller and Jonah Devlin will return to add some much-needed outside run for the Eagles, with Alex Erlandson and Ethan Curran likely to return for the Demons.
Tip – NNW United to win by seven points.
TYNTYNDER v BALRANALD
THE returns of Matthew Neagle and Bill Parry look set to give Balranald the boost of confidence they need to topple Tyntynder at Alan Garden Reserve.
Neagle has been sorely missed in the midfield in recent weeks, with the Roos’ engine room missing his contested ball winning ability and class around the contest.
Parry will also be a strong inclusion in the Roos defence, with Glen Gillbee and Colin Andrews, pending an overnight fitness test, also chances to return.
Balranald’s timing couldn’t be better, slowly getting their best team back on the park ahead of a tough final month of the season, where they will need to win every match to ensure they play finals.
Tyntynder can also ill-afford another loss, with the Bulldogs now relying on other results to go their way, along with winning every match themselves, to be any chance of seeing September action.
Making the home side’s task even harder will be the expected absence of playmaker Roy George, who has spent the past fortnight impressing with the Casey Demons in the VFL.
George is a huge loss for the Bulldogs, along with Jason Eagle, who missed Tyntynder’s 60-point loss to Cohuna a fortnight ago.
If Eagle joins Mick Dedini in coming into Tyntynder’s line-up, then the home side are a chance to cause an upset – but without him it’s hard to see the Bulldogs kicking a winning score against the improving Roos.
Tip – Balranald to win by 12 points.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v LAKE BOGA
A VISIT by Lake Boga presents possibly Koondrook-Barham’s last opportunity to break their almost two-year losing streak this season.
It’s been 30 games since the River Raiders last tasted victory in round 16, 2022 – almost two years ago to the day.
Similarly, it’s also been a year to forget for the Magpies, who have lost their past five matches and sit second last on the Central Murray ladder.
Those past five losses have all come against potential finalists, however, with the Magpies continuing to improve in recent weeks, leaving them well placed.
The one thing they won’t be able to prepare for is Koondrook-Barham’s ferocity at the ball, as if there was ever a team who should attack the contest, it is the Raiders.
While the Raiders play their home ground well, the wide open spaces of the Barham Recreation Reserve should also suit Lake Boga’s outside run and speed, especially with Will Doquile expected to return to their line-up.
While everyone would love to see Koondrook-Barham’s losing streak end, they will need to improve on recent results, especially after kicking just one goal and having just four scoring shots against Balranald last weekend.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by 15 points.
