MOULAMEIN v QUAMBATOOK
MOULAMEIN will host Quambatook in Saturday’s Golden Rivers Football League match of the round, with the winner to take over the title of most likely challenger to Nullawil.
In a mirror image of last season, the Swans have jumped out of the blocks to start the season, claiming three wins from as many games against Ultima, Wandella and Murrabit to be – apart from Nully – the only undefeated side.
The Saints, on the other hand, suffered a first-round loss at the hands of the Maroons, before strong wins against Macorna and Hay in recent weeks.
Quamby were impressive in their 86-point defeat of Hay last weekend – particularly up forward, with Ash Murray kicking seven goals and half-forward Brady Tillig getting dangerous with four of his own. Tillig will be one to watch for the Saints, after putting in a performance described as one of the best seen in a long time from a small forward.
While Moulamein will be mindful of the threat posed by the Quamby forwards, the Swans’ brains trust will also be comfortable in the knowledge they too possess a damaging and powerful forward line.
Josh Flight has booted 20 goals from his first three games in the red and white, with he and Andrew Silva already beginning to form a dangerous and potent forward combination.
This game will likely be decided between the arcs – with both midfields set to go head-to-head in a fast scrap. Both teams like to hurt their opposition on the outside with quick ball movement forward, but it could well be the on-ball group that wins the contested battle that helps decide this game.
The other contest that will have a big bearing on the result will be in the ruck, with Moulamein coach and possibly Golden Rivers’ No.1 ruckman Heath Moloney set to do battle with in-form Quamby big man Michael Bradbury.
In what should be a classic encounter between two sides shat are separated by very little – it might well be that little bit of extra depth through the midfield that gets the Saints marching home with a win.
HAY v ULTIMA
COME 5pm Saturday, either Hay or Ultima will be celebrating their first win of the season, while the other will be facing a long wait to get that elusive win.
While neither side is expected to challenge for a top-four berth, both teams will be attacking the contest like it’s a grand final when they meet at Hay.
The Lions were given an 86-point touch up by Quambatook last weekend, while Ultima succumbed to the much-improved Macorna by 65 points. Despite the margin, it was a competitive performance from the Roos for three quarters, with Kyle Symons’ men lowering their colours in the third term, allowing the Tigers to pile on eight goals to one.
Hay is going with youth in 2022 in an effort to replenish their senior playing stocks and regenerate their senior list for future seasons.
Kenneth Hargreaves, Jensen Hargreaves and Angus Gardiner are kids showing significant signs of improvement, as is Fergus Cattanach, who will hopefully return to the Lions’ line-up after missing last week.
The key to Ultima’s chances of success lies with their in-form midfielder Mitch Seton-Stewart, who is again dominating out of the centre square for the Roos. Jack Delmenico has been offering good support in recent weeks, while another positive has been the good form of ruckman Jye Purtill.
The man Hay may need to stop could well be intercept defender Jamie Nicholas, with the Roos’ new acquisition showing the sort of form that made him one of the most watchable back men in the Central Murray.
With Jack Gervasi set to return for Ultima, I’m tipping the visitors to narrowly get the job done in another thriller.
Tip – Ultima to win by five points.MACORNA v WANDELLA
WANDELLA will travel to Macorna in what can only be dubbed an eight-point game for both clubs.
With Wandella seemingly the most vulnerable of 2021’s top-four sides and Macorna appearing most likely to challenge from those outside – the encounter could have serious ramifications on the finals’ prospects of both clubs.
The Tigers will go in close to full strength, with very few injuries troubling the challengers through the early rounds of the season.
The same cannot be said for the Bombers, with the Wandella injury list growing by the week. Leighton Wilkins will miss an extended period after breaking his collarbone last Saturday, joining fellow ruck-forward Ricky Cathie on the sidelines. Their absence will leave the Bombers short – quite literally – in the ruck department, something that Macorna and Nick Leach will be desperate to take advantage of.
While Wandella may be without ruckmen, they will regain the services of Matt Wilkinson, who missed the past two games through injury.
The challenge for the home side will be to play a consistent four quarters and avoid the lapses in concentration that plague each week. While their work ethic cannot be questioned, if they want to challenge the top three sides, they have to close the gap between their best and their worst.
The midfield battle is where this game is likely to be won and lost and it’s hard to ascertain which has the ascendency. The Bombers have great midfield depth, with Russell Rich, Mitch Collins, Kane Timmins and Darren Rushton all in form and capable of rotating through the centre.
Macorna on the other hand have more than enough class to match it with Wandella, with Malcolm Neiwand, Dylan Wright and young gun Toby Whinfield capable of turning a game.
In a game where little separates the teams, it could come down to which side is able to score more regularly. With Bombers’ spearhead Sam Sperling having missed last week, that advantage looks to lie with the Tigers.
Tip – Macorna to win by six points.
NULLAWIL v MURRABIT
MURRABIT will have the unenviable task of trying to take down the Golden Rivers’ benchmark side in Nullawil – in what is a true David versus Goliath battle.
The Blues will have their work cut out for them, especially on the evidence of what Nully have done so far this season, with wins by 100-plus points over Quambatook, Ultima and Wandella. Murrabit’s single victory came but just one point over the winless Hay a fortnight ago.
The key to a successful day for Murrabit won’t be in the result – but rather the manner in which they play. It will be all about showing fight and attacking the contest, putting pressure on their opposition and making the most of their opportunites when they have possession.
The Blues will be without Brayden Turvey, who suffered a concussion during their loss to Moulamein last Saturday. But they regain the services of Tom Hetherington, Jackson Lowry and potentially Tom Copland after proving his fitness in the reserves over the past few weeks.
Patrick Kelly will return to the Nullawil line-up with the Pioneers enjoying a couple of weeks off and will likely slot straight into the midfield rotations alongside Andrew Casey, Matt Quigley, Daniel Watts, Grant Ford and Zac Kelly.
With winners on every line, it’s not so much about who wins, but by how much Nullawil are likely to win by.
Tip – Nullawil to win by 60 points.
