BALRANALD v MALLEE EAGLES
THE Mallee Eagles will be aiming to confirm themselves as a genuine premiership contender when they meet Balranald at Greenham Park this weekend.
The Eagles have been steadily improving following a slow start to their season, but will face their toughest test yet against a rejuvenated Roos outfit who will be hoping to make a statement of their own after a strong win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang last Saturday.
Bill Parry will miss the match for the home side having re-injured his calf in the 27-point win over the Saints, while the Eagles will welcome Matthew Despott to their line up as the only change.
While both clubs possess very different strengths, the match is likely to be decided in the midfield, with Kobe Lloyd, Harrison Soraggi and both Jydon and Matthew Neagle expected to go head to head with Harry Allen, Beau Bennett, Brent Macleod and Darcy McGregor.
The challenge for Balranald will be in stopping Darcy Hourigan, with the Roos having struggled to contain opposition key forwards this season, with Josh Williams (five goals), Lachlan Gardner (six goals) and Archer Dibsdale (four goals) all having an impact on games against them this season.
If Hourigan can get dangerous, then an upset could be on the cards, but at their best, the Roos should be too strong.
Tip – Balranald to win by 12 points.
TYNTYNDER v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
A SPOT in the top five could be the prize when Tyntynder (seventh) and Tooleybuc-Manangatang (fifth) lock horns at the Alan Garden Reserve.
While the Bulldogs’ weaker percentage will likely prevent them immediately leapfrogging their way into the five, it will certainly provide them with the opportunity to do so next weekend when they play Swan Hill in the standalone King’s Birthday contest.
Before they can look that far ahead, however, they will need to contend with the Saints, who have so far this season looked every bit like a finals team in their four wins.
While Tooleybuc-Manangatang were found wanting for three quarters against Balranald last Saturday, there were still plenty of positives, with Josh Williams finding form in his second game back from injury with five goals, along with the continued good form of Harrison Maher, Connor McDonald and Blake Grant.
Alle three will have a big say in the midfield battle against the Bulldogs, who have plenty of firepower of their own in the middle with Marcus Wattie, Roy George, Isaiah Bull and Jayden Magro all capable of changing the course of a game with a blistering five-minute burst.
With very little separating them, an arm wrestle can be expected in what is essentially an eight-point contest for both clubs.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by four points.
LAKE BOGA v SWAN HILL
AN undermanned Swan Hill will be aiming for their first win when they travel to Lake Boga.
The Swans will be without Ned McKeown (ankle), Elijah Miliado (suspension) and Lachlan Vrolijks, with the trio joining star midfielders Jose Miliado and Jimmy Toumpas on the sidelines.
Their timing couldn’t be any worse, the Magpies clash being one of the first genuine opportunities at victory for the young Swans, who have had to face six of the top seven clubs to begin the season.
While Lake Boga almost certainly won’t feature in the finals, they are still a team not to be taken lightly, especially with key forward David Gourdis and attacking half-back Josh Wills returning after missing the Magpies’ 42-point loss to the Mallee Eagles last Saturday.
Wills is a massive inclusion for the black and white army, with his run and speed helping complement the new attacking game style under Dean Helmers, along with the good form of Brodie Tonkin, Fraser Colville and Marty Parsons.
Toby Thoolen will be the key player for the Swans, with the ruckman needing to give the likes of Michael Herlihy, Tom Holdstock and Cooper Angus first use of the ball around the contest if the injury-hit Swans are to be any chance of causing an upset.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by 14 points.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v WOORINEN
KOONDROOK-Barham will welcome back several key players to boost their chances against an in-form Woorinen.
Midfielders Nathan Hamence, Patrick Goble and Corey Barrington, along with key forward Kye Attwell, will return for the home side, while the Tigers will also welcome back Tom Langford and Brock McLean, adding to their midfield depth.
Woorinen’s back line will pose the biggest challenge for Koondrook-Barham, with Taylor Cameron, Mitch Uhlhorn and Doug Beames having dominated across half-back so far this season.
The other strength for the visitors is their spread of goalkickers in their forward line, with Lachlan Gardner, William Collicoat, Josh Stone and Arnold Kirby all capable of hurting their opposition on the scoreboard.
While the Raiders have plenty of weapons capable of turning a game themselves, including Mitch Christensen, Billy Driscoll and Cambell Davison, it’s hard to see the Tigers not extending their winning streak to four.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 36 points.
