COHUNA KANGAS v LAKE BOGA
LAKE Boga will be out to take their first big scalp tomorrow afternoon, when they travel south to take on the Cohuna Kangas.
The Magpies can consider themselves lucky to have escaped with the four points last Saturday against NNW United, after the Demons wasted countless opportunities in front of goal.
But while they remain undefeated, the Kangas will be another step up and will require a much more polished performance.
Cohuna will be without youngster Riley Mason after injuring his shoulder in the Kangas’ 73-point win over Koondrook-Barham, but will regain the services of Pat Contin and Anthony Fagan in a boost to the midfield, where the game will most likely be won and lost.
Lake Boga got hammered by the Demons in clearances and will to do more to compete against the likes of Joel Helman, Jarrod Findlay, Sam McGlone and Jack Donat.
The Magpies have their fair share of midfield talent as well, and with Jacob Simpson at their disposal, there really is no reason they shouldn’t be able to get their hands on the ball first.
With two strong forward lines each capable of kicking a winning score, it could be the team that handles the wide-open spaces of the Cohuna Recreation Reserve coming out on top, and that advantage should belong to the home side.
Tip – Cohuna Kangas to win by seven points.
NNW UNITED v KERANG
NYAH-Nyah West United will aim to bounce back from an agonisingly close loss when they host reigning premiers Kerang.
The Demons won almost every key statistical area of the game except one – the scoreboard – against the Magpies.
Although it was a performance leaving many feeling they weren’t far away, a reality check might be about to hit them.
Kerang have clearly set the pace over the first two rounds of the season, having demolished Tooleybuc-Manangatang and the Mallee Eagles.
While bigger tests no doubt await them, there is no reason to suggest that the Blues bandwagon won’t keep on rolling.
Their midfield is as strong as ever and the addition of Nick Lang as their No.1 ruckman has only enhanced their dominance in the centre square.
The one query that was held about the Blues in the pre-season has been seemingly squashed too, with Brad Pay, Michael Runciman and Troy Coates all hitting the scoreboard and covering the absence of Bryce Curnow.
While Kerang are set to be without Tyson Clingan (collarbone) for an extended period, the Demons have a number of injury issues of their own, with Brady Davidson (AC joint) and Tristan Dalbon (hamstring) joining Alex Erlandson, Jaydyn Stirling and Campbell Everitt on the sidelines.
The news isn’t all bad for NNW United though, with Jarrod Stokes set to line up in the red and blue tomorrow, along with fellow Darwin Buffaloes teammate Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, with the pair likely to add to the Demons midfield and forward line.
Tip – Kerang to win by 30 points.
MALLEE EAGLES v SWAN HILL
THE injury-plagued Mallee Eagles will face off against Swan Hill, with both clubs desperate to atone for disappointing performances last weekend.
Facing Kerang, the Eagles were always going to be somewhat up against it, however their cause wasn’t helped by first-half injuries leaving them without rotations, ultimately smacked by the reigning premiers.
Those same injury dramas are set to carry over, with Angus McKenzie and Andrew McDonald already ruled out, and Zac O’Meara set to follow suit despite his hamstring injury not being as severe as first thought.
While the loss of three key position players will hurt, especially against Toby Thoolen in the ruck, the Eagles do have reinforcements on the way, with Paul Davis, Joe Halloran and Braidon Bennett likely to return, along with another new recruit in speedy midfielder/forward Shaun Harrison from Heathcote.
Although not to the same depth on the scoreboard, Swan Hill would have been equally dissatisfied with their display against Tooleybuc-Manangatang, a team they would have been hoping to compete with.
The difference for the Swans is their squad will only improve this weekend, with Leighton Dullard set to return, along with Will Bennett.
Swan Hill’s improvement will come from their youth, but the challenge is how they go about extracting more from them, with Matthew Wade, Xavier Moloney and Thoolen once again among their better players last Saturday.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by eight points.
TYNTYNDER v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
WITH two losses from as many games, it will be season-on-the-line football when Tyntynder host Koondrook-Barham tomorrow afternoon.
While the Raiders weren’t expected to challenge for finals this season, the same can’t be said for the Bulldogs.
But if the unthinkable was to happen and the home side slipped to 0-3, they can effectively wave goodbye to any hope of seeing September action this year.
Harry Simpson, Cayden Crowe and Matt Corney will all return for Tyntynder, while Justin Ellis and Patrick Blake are also expected to take slot back into the Bulldogs forward line to give them a much more competitive look.
Koondrook-Barham were competitive in patches against the Kangas last Saturday, but if they want to win their first points of the season, they have to improve their consistency.
It’s a similar story for the Bulldogs, who were well beaten all over the ground last weekend, but especially through the midfield.
With both depth and speed through the middle shown to be a concern for both teams throughout the early rounds of the season, whoever manages to turn their form around and get their hands on the ball first will most likely secure their first points as well.
Tip – Tyntynder to win 15 points.
