COHUNA v MALLEE EAGLES
WITH Swan Hill and Tooleybuc-Manangatang to lock horns, Saturday presents as the perfect opportunity for the sixth placed Cohuna Kangas to make a statement in their push for fifth spot.
Standing in their way however is a team who has so far taken all before them in 2025, with the Mallee Eagles’ unbeaten campaign showing no signs of slowing in recent weeks.
The Eagles have scored 50 goals or more in every match this season except one, and it’s their ability to score heavily which continues to set them apart from the rest of the competition.
Despite missing goal shooter Megan Thorneycroft, the Eagles proved too strong for a determined Swans outfit last Saturday, with a 15-goal to six first quarter blowing the game apart before quarter time.
Thorneycroft will again be absent on Saturday, while the Kangas will be at full strength for one of the few times this year in yet another positive for the home side.
Danni Bird and Carla Walker, along with Lilly Guerin were among the Kangas’ better players in their 13-goal win over Balranald last Saturday, and will need to be again, especially against an Eagles outfit containing dominant defenders Jemma Meehan and Nevaeh Roberts and speedy midcourters Lily Brennan, Alicia Harvey and Kasey Torr.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 11 goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v LAKE BOGA
KOONDROOK-Barham will be back to full strength for their must-win battle against an improving Lake Boga Saturday afternoon.
The Raiders will welcome Sophie Peacock and Larney Allen back into their defensive line-up as they continue their push towards a potential top three finish and the all-important double chance.
Although Koondrook-Barham come into the Saturday’s match on the back of a four-game winning streak, it also looms as a danger game for the tri-colours, with Lake Boga improving considerably since their 15-goal loss back in round 5.
While the Magpies will be missing goal attack Jess Weaver, they will welcome back both Milla Holt and Maddie Hickey to their line-up, with the pair set to have a significant impact.
Holt has been one of the Central Murray’s most improved players having scored 303 goals in nine games this season, while Hickey has played in three of Lake Boga’s four wins, despite playing just six matches.
It won’t be just Holt and Hickey who will come into Lake Boga’s side however, with impressive young defender Imogen Frost-Thomas expected to make her A Grade debut this weekend.
If the Magpies play to their potential, then an upset could well be on the cards, but Koondrook-Barham should have too much at stake to drop this one.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by seven goals.
BALRANALD v NNW UNITED
NYAH-Nyah West United are running out of opportunities to break through for their first win of the season – although they may not get a better chance than Saturday’s contest against Balranald to do exactly that.
The Roos’ 13-goal loss to Cohuna last Saturday has all but removed them from finals race, with Balranald now needing to win every game and rely on other results to go their way to see September action.
While Balranald will start as deserving favourites to keep those faint finals hopes alive against the Demons, they will also be without former Julie Wardle medallist Jess Parry.
Parry is a massive loss for the Roos defence, with NNW United’s biggest weakness this season being their ability to score having averaged just over 35 goals per game.
The Demons have tried many combinations in attack in search of the one that works best, with Bridie Curran expected to join Madi Jones and Taylen Blachford in the goal circle on Saturday.
It may well be that Curran partners Blachford, with Jones pushing into the Demons’ midcourt with Taigan O’Shannassy set to miss Saturday’s match however.
Although NNW United will be desperate to break through for win number one, they will need to be at their absolute best against a team that is always tough to beat at home. Tip – Balranald to win by five goals.
