MALLEE EAGLES v COHUNA
THE Cohuna Kangas will go into Saturday’s all-important clash against the undefeated Mallee Eagles without key defender Carly Geary.
Geary’s absence is sure to leave a significant hole in the Kangas’ defence, which will be hard to fill considering they are set to come up against the Central Murray’s number one scoring team.
The Eagles are averaging just over 51 goals per game this season, and although Cohuna aren’t far behind (50.33 goals per game) in that area, the loss of Geary will leave them somewhat vulnerable.
The Mallee Eagles on the other hand will be both full strength and full of confidence after defeating Woorinen by 11 goals last Saturday.
The midcourt match-ups between the Eagles’ Lily Brennan, Alicia Harvey and Kasey Torr and Cohuna’s Tanner Edwards, Taylor Hird and Lucy Palmer will be key to the result, along with Carla Walker and Danni Bird being able to score against the strong defensive combination of Nevaeh Roberts and Jemma Meehan.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by six goals.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v SWAN HILL
SATURDAY’S encounter with an improving Tooleybuc-Manangatang looms as a danger game for Swan Hill, with both clubs needing a win in order to keep pace with the top five.
Both the Saints and Swans come into the match having beaten Lake Boga, with Tooleybuc-Manangatang freshened after having enjoyed the bye last weekend.
The Saints are likely to regain the services of young gun Jayda Plant, with defender Laura Grant also a chance to resume, having not played since round 1.
The Swans on the other hand are expected to go in with an unchanged team, with the battle between Plant and Karli McIntyre in the centre expected to be a pivotal one.
While Plant has proved she can successfully fill the goal attack bib when needed, it’s in the midcourt where the Swans look most dangerous, with McIntyre, Hayley Neuschafer, Ava Seymour and Miela Roberts all strong performers last Saturday.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by four goals.
NNW UNITED v BALRANALD
NYAH-Nyah West United will be aiming to break through for their first win of the season when they host Balranald Saturday afternoon.
It has been a difficult start to the season for the Demons, who find themselves on the bottom of the ladder having conceded the second most goals per game (49.75) and scored the second least goals (32) per game on average.
The one saving grace for NNW United is that the only team to have fared worse defensively is Balranald, who has conceded 52 goals per game on average as their new look defence continues to develop.
While Jess Parry and Taylen Blachford will be a key match-up for both teams – albeit at the opposite end of the court to what they’re used to – it will be in the midcourt where this match is likely to be decided.
Tip – Balranald to win by five goals.
LAKE BOGA v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
BOTH Lake Boga and Koondrook-Barham are expected to go into Saturday’s match unchanged, with the Raiders looking to return to form following a disappointing fortnight.
Having started the season with two strong wins, Koondrook-Barham have been no match for leading contenders Kerang and the Mallee Eagles in recent weeks.
Saturday’s match against looms as a far easier task however, with the reigning premiers starting the season without a win from their first four matches.
Despite their slow start, there have still been plenty of positives for the Magpies to take from the first month of the season, with young guns Ruby Ryan, Holly Lynas and the slightly more experienced Montana Davies all showing that they can handle the step up in standard.
They will need to continue their progression if they are to match it with a Raiders outfit that possesses match winners such as Emma Peacock, Remy Doyle and Erin Moerenhout on every line.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by 10 goals.
