TYNTYNDER v LAKE BOGA
If ever there was a must-win game for Lake Boga, tomorrow is it, with the Magpies desperately needing to bank the four points against Tyntynder ahead of a tough run home.
A loss for Lake Boga would be catastrophic for their finals chances, and tomorrow’s match against the Bulldogs is far from a foregone conclusion, with Tyntynder’s form on the improve. Last Saturday’s big win over the Raiders followed competitive losses to Balranald and Woorinen.
The Magpies’ form has fluctuated all season. Their best football is very good, but their worst is ordinary – and after the bye, which team shows up is anyone’s guess.
The two teams last met back in round 4, when an eight-goal-to-three second half handed Lake Boga a 49-point win at home.
The Magpies beat Tyntynder up around the contest that day, with Jacob Simpson dominating in the ruck and Jake Warren, Tyle Williams, Matthew Payne and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown all finding plenty of the ball around the stoppages.
Simpson again looms as a big threat to the Bulldogs, not least because he’s possibly the best ruckman in the league, but because the home side will be without Hugh Broad, who suffered a knee injury in his team’s 102-point win over Koondrook-Barham last Saturday.
Broad will be the only omission for Tyntynder, who despite being light on for big men, are still expected to have a stronger line-up with Jason Eagle, Liam Whelan and Matt Corney expected to play.
If Eagle can get his hands on the ball often enough, the Bulldogs could well cause an upset, and put a major dent in Lake Boga’s finals hopes – but the Magpies still deserve to be favourites.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by seven points.
KERANG v COHUNA KANGAS
With the rae for the top five heating up, the Cohuna Kangas will need to do the unthinkable when they host ladder leaders Kerang tomorrow afternoon.
Currently sitting fifth, a loss tomorrow will see the Kangas slide outside the five and be replaced by either NNW United or Swan Hill.
With three winnable games to follow, a win tomorrow would almost guarantee themselves a finals berth, but against the Blues, that’s much easier said than done.
It was almost done last Saturday, with the Demons showing the other Central Murray clubs the blueprint to match Kerang, forcing the Blues to produce their best in the one-point win.
Opponents with speed have often troubled Kerang, and although they have several players capable of opening a game up on the outside in Rylee Smith, Sean Hunter and Josh Nitschke, they can also be exposed going the other way.
That is unlikely to be an issue against Cohuna tomorrow, who are more workmanlike in their ball movement to key forwards Rhys Free and Dylan Johnstone.
While intercept defender Jake Hammond and attacking onballer Joel Helman hold the keys to success for the Kangas, Kerang should have too much depth and class through the midfield to be troubled by the home side, with the Blues to lock away top spot by 5pm tomorrow.
Tip – Kerang to win by 29 points.
BALRANALD v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
Koondrook-Barham will start their horror finish to the season tomorrow afternoon, when they travel north to Greenham Park and take on Balranald.
Winless for 13 rounds, the Raiders aren’t expected to trouble the second-placed Roos, who comfortably accounted for Woorinen last Saturday.
Balranald won’t want to tinker with their form as they approach the business end of the season as the team most pundits expect to challenge reigning premiers Kerang for the title, especially with a midfield stacked full of class.
That may be the biggest challenge for the Raiders: getting their hands on the ball out of the middle against Matthew Neagle, Ethan Gant, Kobe Lloyd and co.
And if that doesn’t give them sleepless nights, the thought of Ben Fuller, Jydon Neagle and Drew Lloyd combining up forward should, especially of they get the level of supply they did last week.
Key defender Scott Wood missed last Saturday’s match against Tyntynder and is no certainty to return, potentially giving Fuller – and Balranald – a free run at a day out.
Tip – Balranald to win by 72 points.
MALLEE EAGLES v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
Pride will be all that’s at stake when the Mallee Eagles and Tooleybuc-Manangatang clash at Lalbert tomorrow afternoon.
It’s fair to say season 2023 hasn’t gone according to plan for the Eagles (ninth) and Saints (tenth), with both clubs being devastated by injuries at times over the preceding 14 rounds.
Thankfully for Tooleybuc-Manangatang, relief is on its way, with Josh Williams set to return from concussion and the Wardle brothers, John and Richard, also set to come into the side for tomorrow’s match.
The Eagles will be sweating on the return of Joe Halloran (hamstring), who will need to have passed an overnight fitness test to take his place in the side.
Expect the game to be decided out of the middle, with Eagles midfielders Harry Allen, Beau Bennett and Shaun Harrison all in form and set to go head-to-head with the equally damaging Ethan Goldfinch, Blake Grant and Tom Carland.
With leading goal kicker Brent Macleod clearly hampered by injury in last Saturday’s loss to Swan Hill, the challenge for the home side will be in finding avenues to goal, with Paul Davis their only other player to have registered double figures in 2023.
While finals may be off the agenda for both teams, they’ll still be hoping to finish 2023 on a high, with the Eagles expected to be too strong at home in a highly competitive game.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 14 points.
