SWAN HILL v BALRANALD
BALRANALD will be aiming to return to the winners’ list – and the top three – with victory against winless Swan Hill when the two clubs clash at the Showgrounds this weekend.
The Roos have had two weeks to dwell on their shock five-point loss to the Mallee Eagles and will surely come out breathing fire in their return to the scene of their heartbreaking loss to Kerang in last year’s grand final.
Rory Fitzgerald, Sebastian Papa and Tobie Richardson will all be available after missing the loss to the Eagles in a welcome addition to Balranald’s depth.
However, the news isn’t as welcome for the home side, who went within six points of beating arch-rivals Swan Hill last Saturday.
Jose Miliado, who re-injured his hamstring, will be one of several key outs, as Michael Hurley, Buol Majur, Taj McMillian all return to their clubs after their King’s Birthday weekend appearances.
In a further blow, midfielders Adam Manning and Cooper Angus will also miss, along with Lachlan Vrolijks, with Elijah Miliado returning from suspension to be the only confirmed inclusion for the home side.
With a top-three spot at stake and with the Swans’ depth set to be stretched to the limit, a comfortable win for the Roos should be expected.
Tip – Balranald to win by 42 points.
NNW UNITED v LAKE BOGA
NYAH-Nyah West United will be without midfielders Riley Daniels and Brayden Bigham for their home encounter with Lake Boga, after the pair received four-match suspensions this week.
While the loss of Daniels and Bigham’s run and spread from the contest will be felt by the Demons, the returns of Nick O’Neill and Alex Erlandson from suspension, along with forward Corey Daniels and onballer Ethan Saville, will help cover the absences.
Saville is a massive inclusion, his ability to win the contested ball sorely missed in the final quarter of the Demons’ 11-point loss to Kerang a fortnight ago.
It was NNW United’s first defeat for the season and one that would have stung the ladder leaders, who had the game within their keeping until the reigning premiers stormed home with three unanswered goals in the final term.
Despite being at the other end of the ladder, Lake Boga will be full of confidence having recorded a come from behind win over Swan Hill at their last outing, with key ball users Brodie Tonkin, Zac Warne and Josh Wills all starring.
With Aaron Lonergan and Taylor Johnstone expected to return for the improving Magpies, it could prove to be a danger game for the fast-running Demons.
Tip – NNW United to win by 25 points.
COHUNA v KERANG
KERANG coach Troy Coates will pull on the boots for the first time since last year’s grand final win over Balranald when the Blues face off against arch-rivals Cohuna.
Having retired following the Blues’ premiership last season, Coates will return following a spate of injuries to his side.
Bradlee Pay (concussion), Liam Jardine (concussion), Lachlan Ross (hamstring), Ryan Gillingham (ankle) and Sam Heavyside are all set to join Adam Baird, Caleb Nitschke and Jack Daglish on the sidelines.
Along with Coates, recruit Brett Kennedy will return for Kerang, with Harry Bremner, Samuel Nitschke and Cody Tuohey expected to come up from reserves.
The Kangas should be near full strength, with Jackson Williams, Chris Anderson, Ryan Semmel, Riley Hird, Cooper McLoughlin and Xavier Mitchell all pushing for selection having overcome injuries since their 25-point loss to NNW United three weeks ago.
The challenge for coach Jack Geary will lie in whether they bring all six players back into the senior side at once, in what is now a must-win game if the two-win, five-loss Kangas have any hope of resurrecting their season.
Tip – Kerang to win by 12 points.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang will be aiming to resurrect their finals hopes when they host winless Koondrook-Barham at the Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
After a promising start to their 2024 campaign, the Saints come into this weekend off the back of two losses, with their 58-point loss to Tyntynder knocking them from the top five for the first time this season.
While the home side will go in as favourites, Koondrook-Barham will also be sniffing the chance to break their 24-game losing streak, with the Raiders last win coming all the way back in round 16, 2022, coincidently against the Saints.
Encouragingly, Koondrook-Barham have been steadily improving over recent weeks, with Cambell Davison, Billy Driscoll and skipper Patrick Goble stepping up in recent games and giving the Raiders’ forwards plenty of looks at the goal.
The key match-up will be between in-form ruckmen Connor McDonald and Mitch Christensen, with both players vital to giving their midfielders first use of the ball out of the middle.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by 20 points.
