MOULAMEIN v MACORNA
MOULAMEIN and Macorna will be out to return to the winners’ list following disappointing losses last Saturday when they meet on Saturday afternoon at Moulamein.
The Swans squandered their chance to tighten their grip on a top-two finish when they succumbed to Quambatook by 47 points, while Macorna also failed to capitalise on their chance to secure a top-four position when they lost to Wandella by 21 points.
Both teams will be out to make up ground on their rivals in a game now seen as a must-win encounter.
Moulamein’s big strength this season has been their forward line, with Josh Flight having kicked 21 goals from the first four rounds and dangerous players Andrew Silva and Luke Smailes.
The key for the Swans is to be able to win enough of the footy through the middle of the ground to supply the potent forward line. That was where it all fell apart for them last week.
While the Tigers possess an at times dangerous on-ball division, it’s nowhere near as damaging as what Moulamein encountered last weekend. Malcolm Neiwand is a star, while Dylan Wright and Toby Whinfield are consistent performers each week. But the Tigers lack the depth through the midfield that the Swans have at their disposal.
While Macorna are capable of producing an upset, they would need everything to go their way – and at home, it’s difficult to see the Swans dropping this one. Tip – Moulamein to win by 18 points.
ULTIMA v QUAMBATOOK
ULTIMA will still be searching for their first when they host a resurgent Quambatook.
The Roos’ faithful would have been bitterly disappointed with their team’s performance against Hay last weekend. Although a win would appear out of reach against the Saints, they will be just hoping for a bit more fight and a four- quarter effort from their side this time around.
There’s no doubt that Ultima are in a rebuilding stage, with the club investing in youth and playing a very inexperienced team under new coach Kyle Symons. But even young and inexperienced teams can bring effort – and that’s what will be expected against one of the leading teams in Quamby.
Ultima will welcome back Ryan Devereux and Jacob Schaper, both players set add both class and experience to the Roos’ line-up. Brayden Cooper will likely miss, however, while a fitness cloud hangs over ruckman Jye Purtill after he injured his shoulder early in last Saturday’s game.
Quambatook will also be forced into making a couple of changes, with Tobie Cameron and Michael Hahnel set to miss through injury and unavailability. It’s not all bad news for Saints fans, however, with Matt George and Jackson McGrath set to take their place in the line-up.
The Saints’ back six has been in superb form of late, led by Jarred Schlitz, Ash Davis and Nick Birthisel, although with the way in which the Quamby midfield – led by Ricky Wild and Gregor Knight – is expected to dominate, it’s unlikely they will have too much to do.
Tip – Quambatook to win by 48 points.
NULLAWIL v HAY
AFTER claiming their first win of the season last Saturday, Hay’s celebrations will be short lived when they travel to Nullawil and face the all-conquering Maroons.
Hay found their groove last weekend against Ultima, out-pressuring the young Roos as well as outworking them on the spread from the contest to set up their 53-point victory.
This match will be chalk and cheese from last week however, with the unbeaten Nully simply steamrolling everyone and anyone that is put in front of them so far. From the first four rounds of the season, the Maroons have an average winning margin of 134 points, which even by their lofty standards last season is remarkable.
As good as they’ve been though, they will have to get the job done without their two key forwards, with both Mitch Farmer (hamstring injury) and Andrew Oberdorfer both set to be missing from the line-up.
While that may take away some of their potency up forward, it won’t diminish their ability to score, with their dangerous midfielders likely to take up the slack. Matt Quigley, Andrew Casey and Jordan Humphreys have all proven they can impact on the scoreboard and may well be engaged to do so on a more permanent basis, leaving Grant Ford, Daniel Watts, Zac Kelly and Pat Kelly to roam through the middle.
Either way, one can expect the Nully bandwagon to keep rolling through town – and add another victim.
Tip – Nullawil to win by 75 points.
MURRABIT v WANDELLA
WANDELLA will be out to claim back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they play Murrabit in the other game of round 5.
The undermanned Bombers couldn’t have been more impressive last weekend against Macorna, with their midfield and makeshift forward line getting the job done against the team most likely to challenge from outside the top four this season.
Wandella will welcome back Darren Rushton, Jamie Wilson and Bailey Hammon from injury and illness, along with their coach Logan Keighran – with Keighran in particular vital to their team structure and ball movement forward of the centre.
While the Bombers will welcome back a number of key players, so too will Murrabit. The Blues, annihilated by Nullawil last Saturday, will be almost unrecognisable with at least seven changes, with Tom Hetherington and Daniel Hovey set to return and reconfigure their forward line.
Also expected to take their place will be Brody Green, who has recovered from his foot injury, as well as Coen Grant, Darcy Grant and Archer McKnight. Co-coach Leigh Millard is also expected to play.
While their inclusions will give the home side a massive boost, they will lose experienced defender Michael Grant, who will leave a massive hole in the back six that could prove hard to fill.
While an upset wouldn’t be impossible, the smart money is with the Bombers to make it two wins on the trot.
Tip – Wandella to win by 24 points.
