WOORINEN v TYNTYNDER
WOORINEN will go into Saturday’s home clash with Tyntynder as red-hot favourites following their impressive 45-point win over Cohuna on Good Friday.
Enjoying the week off last Saturday, and missing the wet weather slugfest, the Tigers also go into the game with an unchanged line-up and a full bill of health.
The same cannot be said for Tyntynder, who will be missing Matt Corney, Jordi Bibby (both ankles), Justin Ellis and Harry Simpson.
Ellis will be a huge loss, with the Bulldogs already missing full-forward Jason Eagle, forcing them to play a makeshift forward structure against one of the most organised defences in the competition.
Woorinen will have plenty of options in their new-look forward half and should have no problems in kicking a winning score against the Dogs.
Danko Bzenic booted three in round 1 and looks a class above, while Doug Beames and Ben Hunt have added some much-needed height and structure.
For the Dogs, although their outs will be greater than their ins, youngster Patrick Blake will provide an option up forward, while Matt Gilbee is expected to hold down one of the key defensive posts.
The key for Tyntynder will be their ability to not only get their hands on the ball first, but interrupt Woorinen’s slick ball movement by hand and foot.
With the Tigers midfield having plenty of depth and top-end talent and with the Bulldogs having to find replacements for both Bibby and Simpson in the middle, it looks a bridge too far for the visitors against one of the early premiership favourites.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 24 points.
SWAN HILL v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
AFTER having the bye in round 1, Swan Hill will open their season at home against a much-improved Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
The Saints had the misfortune of being matched up against reigning premiers Kerang last week.
While their effort in the first half had them in the game at the main break, they were unable to maintain the rage in the second and fell away badly.
That’s no disgrace, as Kerang again look to be the team to beat, but if they can bring the effort and intensity they showed in the first half for a full four quarters Saturday, that should be good enough to earn them their first four points.
Josh Williams will make a massive difference to Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s forward structure and should have been a big focus in Swan Hill’s planning during the week.
The query over the Saints is on their midfield, and even though last Saturday’s conditions were less than ideal for clean hands and outside run, they still look one or two players short in their rotations.
The Swans’ midfield being their big strength, with Matt Wade, Luke Phelan and recruits Nyawi Moore, Jose Miliado and Brandon Houlihan all expect to rotate through there, it’s the one area they may be able to dictate terms.
The problems for the home side will be similar to last year however, with their ability to kick a winning score likely to be their issue in the absence of Kal Heslop and Leighton Dullard.
While Swan Hill will have boom recruit Zach Mihocek making his debut up forward, he can’t be asked to do it all, especially against a Toolybuc-Manangatang defence containing Jaicob Kenny and John Wardle.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by 12 points.
KERANG v MALLEE EAGLES
THE Mallee Eagles will be hoping to spoil Kerang’s party, with the Blues to unfurl their premiership flag in their first home game of 2023.
If last weekend is any guide, another flag could be on the way, with the Blues impressive after half time in their 75-point win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang in wet conditions.
The Blues piled on nine unanswered goals in the third term to completely blow the game open, as they so often do, with their midfield dominating thanks to the good work of ruckman Nick Lang.
The last thing the other 10 clubs needed was Kerang’s competition-leading midfield a adding dominant ruckman, but that’s exactly what they’ve managed to do.
One saving grace for the Eagles is the injury cloud surrounding two of the Blues’ key players, with Josh Nitschke having to pass a fitness at test on his injured ankle at training overnight, and Michael Dalrymple, having left the ground in the last quarter against the Saints with a lower leg injury, also in some doubt.
The Eagles will also be forced into making a couple of changes, with coach Brent Sheahan set for an extended stint on the sidelines after breaking his thumb during his team’s 32-point loss to Lake Boga last Saturday, as well as key forward Paul Davis.
While the Eagles were competitive in patches against the Magpies, especially in conditions that didn’t suit their running game, Kerang are another step up again, and should go 2-0 to start their season.
Tip – Kerang to win by 36 points.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v COHUNA
KOONDROOK-Barham and Cohuna will both be looking for their first points of the season.
It’s hard to tell which side was more disappointing in the opening round, with the Raiders on the end of a 114-point beating by NNW United last Saturday and the Kangas managing just three goals in their 45-point loss to Woorinen on Good Friday.
In terms of expectations, it’s hard to go past Cohuna, who should have been hungry to atone for their loss in last year’s grand final.
Instead, the Kangas kicked just three goals from eight scoring shots in a four-quarter performance that raised more questions than it answered.
It’s unlikely we will see those questions answered Saturday either, with the River Raiders having their own problems as they start their rebuild from the ground up under new coach Will Callow.
Jacob Barrington was a strong performer in the ruck, while Scott Wood in defence and both Mitchell Christensen and Chester Gardner onball could all be pleased with their efforts.
The problem for Koondrook-Barham was their on-ground winners were few and far between, with Callow needing more of his players to step up if they are expected to compete against the Kangas.
While Daniel Coates and Will Thrum will come into the side for their first games of the season, Cohuna will lose defenders Brenton Conforti (knee soreness), Toby Duncan (quad), as well as Pat Contin and Anthony Fagan.
While the absence of Conforti and Duncan will hurt, the Kangas midfield and forward line should prove far too big of a challenge for Koondrook-Barham to reign in.
Tip – Cohuna to win by 45 points.
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