COHUNA KANGAS v KERANG
AS home-and-away games go, they don’t come any bigger than this. Traditional rivals, a top-of-the-ladder clash or the two teams widely considered to play off in this year’s grand final – no matter which way you slice it, Cohuna versus Kerang is the one game everyone has been hanging out to see since pre-season began.
One of the most intriguing battles to take place on Saturday afternoon will be the Kangas’ aggressive, attack-at-all-costs style versus the Blues’ strong and organised defensive game. Kerang’s back six are well organised, but they are yet to come up against a forward line that possesses the weapons that Cohuna do.
Rhys Free is averaging six-and-a-half goals a game and has dominated the Kangas’ forward line, but he isn’t playing a lone hand, with Dylan Johnstone, Tom Toma and Jack Donat also regularly hitting the scoreboard. Throw in Tyler Jones for his first game of the season and the home side would be expected to pile on the goals.
The big question is whether Kerang’s back six can shut down the Kangas’ potent forward line. The Blues’ defence are adept at peeling off and creating two-on-one aerial contests, and if the Kangas are to be as strong as they normally are in that area of the ground, they will have to work on isolating the Kerang defenders.
The Blues’ big strength is their midfield – both in depth and class. Ryan Gillingham has been in sensational form, while Sam Heavyside, Marty Kelly, Brad Pay, Nick Stagg and Rylee Smith form the basis of the No.1 on-ball division in the league.
They won’t get it all their own way, however, as the Kangas possess matchwinners in that department too. The question will be how match fit their engine room of Tom Toma, Joel Helman and Jarrod Findlay will be – especially with Helman and Findlay having missed a number of earlier rounds due to injury.
Jesse Clark will come back into the Blues’ line-up, as will Jack Daglish, after both players missed last week. Cohuna will lose the services of Sam Conforti, but should have Ben Archard to do battle in a mouth-watering ruck duel with Troy Davis.
With little separating either side, the winner may end up being whoever handles the conditions better. With Cohuna playing their bigger ground as well as they do, that may just be where the advantage lies.
Tip – Cohuna to win by two points.
TYNTYNDER v MALLEE EAGLES
BOTH Tyntynder and the Mallee Eagles will be out to make amends for last weekend when they meet at Alan Garden Reserve.
The Eagles gave up a 28-point three-quarter-time lead against Lake Boga, while Kerang annihilated an undermanned Tyntynder by 130 points. Saturday’s game takes on much more importance than four points however, with the winner set to find themselves inside the top five come 5pm.
The Doggies will regain the services of Jason Eagle, Brodie Bennett and Tom Bull from injury, however Josh Stone is still weeks away from resuming and Solomon McKay will be on Pioneers duties.
Eagle is undoubtedly the most important inclusion for the home side. Not only is he their main scorer, he provides a strong target up forward and allows his teammates to play more direct football.
It’s an element that was also missing from Mallee’s team last week, with their No.1 forward Sam Dunstan missing from the line-up. The Eagles’ chances could come down to the availability of their gun full forward and whether he pulls on the blue-and-gold jumper.
The one element the Mallee Eagles will need to try and negate will be Tyntynder’s outside run and speed. The Doggies look at their best when they are able to get the ball out of the contested situation and into the hands of Marcus Wattie, Isaiah Bull and Tom Sala.
The Eagles like to run off half-back and break the lines as well, but are also adept at winning the ball around the stoppages. The two different styles are sure to make for a great contest – one that will likely go down to the wire.
Tip – Tyntynder to win by four points.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v NNW UNITED
AN injury-ravaged Tooleybuc-Manangatang will host Nyah-Nyah West United, with the Demons almost back to full strength after their own tough run with injuries.
NNW United coach Corey Daniels must have either walked under a ladder or smashed a mirror before the start of the season, such was the Demons’ run with injuries through the first five rounds, but it would appear Lady Luck might be just about to turn in their favour.
Brady Davidson, Cal Dobbin and Daniels himself all returned from injury last Saturday and got through unscathed. If not for some inaccurate kicking in front of goal, the Demons would have gone close to beating Balranald.
One area the Demons will need to tidy up will be their ball use, with constant turnovers plaguing them at crucial moments in games. At times, the same accusation can also be thrown at their opponents.
The Saints ran out of puff – and players – in the second half against Swan Hill, allowing the Swans to kick 12 out of the last 13 goals of the game after scores were within eight points halfway through the third quarter.
Much of that was down to their bench, with the injured Johnathan Marsden (wrist), Ryan Connellan (hamstring), Lachie Gleeson (hamstring) and Shylo Smith (ankle) all either off the ground or playing through pain. All four are expected to miss this game, which will open the door for the Demons to get their first points of 2022.
Tip – NNW United to win by six points.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v SWAN HILL
A TUMULTUOUS week at the River Raiders will come to a close when they run out at home against Swan Hill in their first opportunity to impress their new coach Darren Troy.
Although Troy won’t be at the game, you can be sure the Koondrook-Barham playing group will be desperate to put the events of the past 10 days behind them and start the new era on the right foot.
Swan Hill will be no pushover, however, after claiming their first points of the season with a 48-point win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang last Saturday.
The Swans were impressive after half-time against the Saints, with Tom Spicer and Jarvis Keogh providing solid targets – something that was seriously lacking in the first five rounds.
The form of Matthew Wade, Jared Halligan and Cooper Angus through the midfield would have been further cause for celebration among the Swan Hill brains trust, as it will be the midfield where Saturday’s game will likely be won and lost.
The only negative to come out of last weekend were injuries to Mitch Makepeace (hamstring) and Tyler Makepeace (concussion). Both players were likely to be in some doubt for this encounter.
The key to the home side’s hopes surely rest with young gun Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, who has started the season in irrepressible form. He is the one Swan Hill must stop if they want to claim their second win of the season, while bringing their second-half form from last Saturday.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by 12 points.
BALRANALD v WOORINEN
BALRANALD will be out to extend their winning streak to four – and claim a big scalp in the process – when they host Woorinen.
After starting the season with three losses, the Roos have found form over the past month with wins against Koondrook-Barham, Swan Hill and NNW United by 38 points last weekend. But while Balranald have got their season back on level pegging, their three wins are yet to come against a finals contender.
That could all change on Saturday, however, with Woorinen still in the premiership race after the signings of Patrick Veszpremi and Taylor Cameron.
While clearly underdone and carrying a calf niggle in his first game against Tyntynder, Veszpremi showed that he would be a welcome addition to the Tigers’ midfield and forward structure.
Another welcome addition to the den is small forward Dominic Gallo, who will pull on the yellow and black for the first time, as will Tom Eltringham and Nyawi Moore, who both missed Woorinen’s win over the Dogs a fortnight ago.
The man with the biggest job is Jordan Wilkins, the Balranald ruckman tasked with stopping one of the competition’s leading ruckmen, Arnold Kirby. Kirby is the Tigers’ barometer and, when he’s getting his hands on the ball, Woorinen are usually in control.
Wilkins won’t be the only one tasked with quelling an in-form giant. The Woorinen full back is set for an uncomfortable afternoon opposed to Ben Fuller. It’s no surprise that Balranald’s three wins have all come with Fuller’s return to the team, the key forward having booted 19 goals from his three games so far this season.
With Ben Booth likely to miss with injury and Lachie Wright set for Pioneers duty, the job could well fall to one of the Tigers’ smaller defenders to put the brakes on the Fuller train.
But the problem for the home side will be supply, and with the Woorinen midfield stacked full of quality on-ballers, they should be able to get the job done.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 20 points.
