WOORINEN v NNW UNITED
A GAME outside the top five, Nyah-Nyah West United’s season is seemingly on the line when they travel to Tigerland.
The Demons have shown themselves to be competitive against teams around their mark this season, but have been found wanting against the better sides – of which Woorinen is one.
And while NNW United may well still scrape into the finals regardless of tomorrow’s outcome, if they want to do any damage should they make it, they need to start taking some big scalps.
They will be without two key players in Jarrod Stokes and Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, with both leaving gaping holes in the midfield and up forward.
The return of Kayne Davidson will help fill the gap left by Stokes, but leading goal kicker Ahmat-Watkins will be much harder to replace, especially against the well-organised Woorinen defence.
Josh Domaille has been in sensational form in the centre for the Tigers, along with Jye Barry and the underrated Mitch Uhlhorn, while the battle between Lachie Gardner and former premiership teammate Nick O’Neill will be worth the price of admission alone.
While the expected weather conditions might suit the Demons’ outside run as opposed to the Tigers’ well drilled kick-mark ball movement, Woorinen should still have enough class with the dangerous Will Collicoat expected to be a handful in the wet up forward.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 14 points.
LAKE BOGA v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
JAKE Warren is set to return for Lake Boga when they host Tooleybuc-Manangatang in an important game for their season.
The home side find themselves clutching onto a top five position by percentage only, and while the Swans and Demons face significant challenges this round, the Magpies can ill-afford to drop a game they will start favourites in.
The Saints will be no pushover either, with their last-start victory over Koondrook-Barham coming on the back of encouraging performances against Woorinen and Balranald.
Blake Grant has been in superb touch in the middle, along with Ethan Goldfinch and Jack Mazzarella – and if Tim Auckland can break even with Jacob Simpson in the ruck, the Saints could be a chance for an upset.
The return of Alex Powell last round also gave Dean Helmers options forward of the ball, with both Powell and Josh Williams capable of playing either deep forward or rotating through the middle.
Where the visitors could struggle however is down back, with Lake Boga possessing numerous goalkicking options in the forward half.
Angus Monfries has played predominately across half-back, but could be swung forward if the Magpies decide to stretch Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s defence, with David Gourdis, Lochie Laing, Dustin Burns and Jayden Lonergan all having an impact in their side’s 60-point win over Swan Hill a fortnight ago.
In what should be a hard-fought battle between two evenly matched teams, the home ground advantage might be just enough to get the Magpies over the line.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by seven points.
KERANG v SWAN HILL
SWAN Hill will go in significant underdogs against reigning premiers Kerang, who are expected to make it 10 straight wins to start the season.
The Swans would be bitterly disappointed with their performance a fortnight ago against Lake Boga, when a 16-point half-time lead quickly turned into a 60-point flogging.
That it was against a finals rival, who displaced the Swans from the top five, would have only rubbed salt into the wound.
They will now face a near full-strength Kerang outfit, who look set to regain the services of Nick Lang, Troy Coates, Bradlee Pay and Adam Hunter.
Lang showed himself to be one of the most dangerous ruckmen in the Central Murray prior to his knee injury, and his return will put all big men on notice, starting with the Swans’ Toby Thoolen.
Swan Hill will also have a couple of significant inclusions, with Tom Holdstock and Zach Mihocek expected to return, with Mihocek to offer some much needed forward structure and help relieve Thoolen of key forward duties.
If the Swans are to have any hope of causing an upset, they must turn up the heat on the Blues, and pressure the home side at every opportunity, while also controlling the ball out of the middle and winning the territory battle.
While the Swans could potentially match Kerang out of the middle, with Matthew Wade, Brandon Houlihan and Jose Miliado capable of winning plenty of ball, the Blues’ outside run should prove impossible to stop in what could well be a big win for the home side.
Tip – Kerang to win by 38 points.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v MALLEE EAGLES
BOTH Koondrook-Barham and the Mallee Eagles will be playing for pride when they clash at the home of the Raiders during NAIDOC Round.
For the Raiders, who find themselves winless on the bottom of the ladder, it’s their second big opportunity to win their first points of the season, having lost to Tooleybuc-Manangatang last round by 42 points.
They have been a much better side at home this season however, and tomorrow presents the perfect opportunity to claim their first win under Will Callow.
The Raiders have been missing several key players in recent weeks, including Jacob Barrington, Patrick Goble, Jack Thrum and Harley Burmeister-Lyons, and if any – or all – of return, it could well tip the scales in their favour.
Matthew Despott is expected to make his return from an Achilles injury in a boost to the Eagles’ chances of securing their third win of the season.
The key for the visitors has to be their midfield depth, with Shaun Harrison, Harry Allen and Darcy McGregor all capable of winning the game off their own boot, while Zac O’Meara has been in blistering form off half back in recent weeks.
In what could well be one of Koondrook-Barham’s last genuine attempts at breaking their drought this season, expect the home side to throw everything at the Eagles in pursuit of victory.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by six points.
