Cohuna v Swan Hill
BOTH Cohuna and Swan Hill will fancy their chances of a win when they face off at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
It’s fair to say the season hasn’t gone to plan so far for either club, with the 10th-placed Swans one of two teams without a win five rounds in.
The Kangas have likewise been off the pace, with just one win from a team that was expected to feature heavily in finals calculations.
Cohuna have had their excuses as injuries to key players has had a say in their slow start, although the returns of Jackson Williams, Ryan Semmel, Tim Hill, Jacob Mitchell and Dylan Friedberger should help ease that pain in a must-win for both teams.
Swan Hill will lose Nyawi Moore and Jimmy Toumpas from the team that almost upset the undefeated ladder leaders NNW United last Saturday.
The Swans were fantastic for three quarters but fell at the final hurdle.
If Jose Miliado, Toby Thoolen and Cooper Angus can produce the same output, along with the rest of their teammates, then they will once again put themselves in the game.
But they will still need to find a way to nullify the impact of Joel Helman, Jarrod Findlay and Jack Geary, who can each win a game off their own boot.
Tip – Cohuna to win by five points.
Kerang v Mallee Eagles
KERANG will be desperate to celebrate club legend Bradlee Pay’s 200th senior game in style when they host the Mallee Eagles this weekend.
After a 22-point come from behind win against Cohuna last weekend, the Eagles will need to go up another level against the reigning premiers, who are fresh off the bye.
Making the Eagles’ task harder will be the omissions of key players Toby Sheahan and Clint Cummins, who both injured hamstrings. Youngsters Billy O’Meara and Jonah Devlin set to come in after their own injury setbacks.
The positives are that Harry Allen got through his first match back from injury last week and will no doubt be better for the run, while midfielders Darcy McGregor and Brent Macleod continued their good form, along with key defender Joe Halloran.
All will need to be at their best again, with the Blues set to welcome Ryan Gillingham into the side for his first match of the season. Caleb Nitschke is the only confirmed out after dislocating his shoulder in Kerang’s 20-point win over Woorinen a fortnight ago.
While the Eagles are steadily building into a highly competitive outfit, the reigning premiers have too much to play for to drop this one – with Pay’s milestone unlikely to be the only celebration come 5pm tomorrow.
Tip – Kerang to win by 24 points.
Lake Boga v Tooleybuc-Manangatang
WHILE Tooleybuc-Manangatang will go in favourites, their clash with Lake Boga looms as a danger game for the Saints, who are desperately needing a win to keep pace with the top three.
This year’s biggest surprise packet, the Saints have won just four games over the past three seasons but now sitting to just one win away from matching that record inside five games this season.
While the addition of Elliott Chalmers, Kai Kearns and Connor Nutting to Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s midfield has helped add depth, it’s been the form of ruckman Connor McDonald and onballer Harrison Maher that has had the biggest impact.
The Magpies will welcome Darby Hayes back, but will lose forwards David Gourdis and Jayden Lonergan after both suffered soft tissue injuries in their loss to Woorinen last Saturday.
While Lake Boga continues to impress with their attacking game style, the Saints should prove too strong, especially with Josh Williams returning.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by 27 points.
Tyntynder v Koondrook-Barham
TYNTYNDER will have a full-strength line-up and a determination to return to the winners’ list against Koondrook-Barham.
The Bulldogs have had two weeks to think about their 54-point loss to Balranald and should face the winless Raiders with fresh legs after last round’s bye.
But what loomed as an easy kill a fortnight ago is now not so much, with Koondrook-Barham outplaying the Roos for three quarters last Saturday and narrowly falling short of breaking their 22-game losing streak.
The Raiders will be without three-goal hero Warren Lolicato after he sustained a calf injury in last week’s loss, likely leaving a big hole in attack for the visitors.
Tyntynder will be at full strength, with Jason Eagle and Jayden Magro set to pose a threat in attack after each kicked three goals against the Roos.
While Tyntynder deserve to be favourites, if Koondrook-Barham are able to bring the same effort and intensity they showed last week, then that losing streak may not make it to game 23.
Tip – Tyntynder to win by 15 points.
