KOONDROOK-BARHAM v TYNTYNDER
KOONDROOK-Barham will be hoping the return of Ethan Reeves and Jack Thrum sees them return to the winners list when they host Tyntynder to begin round 12 this Saturday.
Both Reeves and Thrum missed last Saturday’s 78-point loss to Cohuna, with the Raiders’ fourth loss of the season seeing them sit just one win above sixth placed Tooleybuc-Manangatang in the finals race.
The Saints dominated the Bulldogs for three and a half quarters last weekend, with the disappointing performance in stalwart Mick Dedini’s 400th senior match surely denting the pride of the red, white and blue army.
Although much has changed since round 1, when Koondrook-Barham claimed a 14-point win at the Alan Garden Reserve, one thing that remains the same has been the Raiders want to transition the ball through the corridor and move it quickly inside their forward 50 to marking targets Kye Attwell and Ryan Bassett.
Tyntynder struggled to contain the Saints’ ball winners last Saturday both inside the contest and with their spread from stoppage and unless they have found an answer to that problem over the past seven days, are likely to battle with it again.
The Bulldogs have enough top end talent to trouble the Raiders, with Bailey Reeves, Elia Ware and Josh Potter all in form, but they will need a bigger contribution from their depth players to take home the four points.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by 30 points.
WOORINEN v BALRANALD
HAVING claimed their second win of the season last Saturday, Balranald are expected to come back to earth with a thud when they play unbeaten ladder leaders Woorinen at Tigerland on Saturday.
Fresh off the bye, the Tigers will go into the weekend with a similar team to the one which dismantled Cohuna by 61 points a fortnight ago.
Woorinen’s 67-point win in round 1 was just a teaser of what has transpired this season under Tim Free, with Woorinen yet to taste defeat and playing like a team hungry for success in 2025.
Their ball movement is quick, their ability to intercept across half back is almost unmatched and with seven individual goalkickers having already registered double figures this season, they also have several paths to boot a winning score each week.
It’s fair to say Woorinen are close to the complete team and are without question the form side of the competition, which won’t help Balranald’s cause.
Much like Tyntynder, the Roos top end talent is strong, with Roarke Smith, Cody Henness and Tanner Coulthard all among the Roos’ better players last Saturday.
Jack Salau and Ryan Middlebrook have also been strong with the run and carry off half back, but against the Tigers on their own home patch, should find the going just a bit too tough this Saturday.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 60 points.
SWAN HILL v NNW UNITED
REIGNING premiers Nyah-Nyah West United will return to the scene of last year’s triumph for the first time when they play Swan Hill this Saturday afternoon.
After a slow start to their premiership defence, the Demons have been steadily building in recent weeks, with six consecutive wins leaving them perfectly placed for another assault on a top three finish over the final seven rounds of the home-and-away season.
Not only do NNW United need to secure the four points on Saturday, but they also need to do it by a considerably margin, with percentage set to play a big role in the final make up of the final five and who earns the prized double chance – and who doesn’t.
Ethan Saville and Max Thompson will both miss for the Demons, with midfielder Brayden Bigham a chance to return for his first match since round 8 pending the outcome of an overnight fitness test.
The Swans on the other hand will continue to blood their youth and get games and development into the young squad over the remaining six games, with Lane Cardenas, Harry Scott, Bodhi Kelly and Lachlan Vrolijks taking big strides forward in their development in recent weeks.
Tip – NNW United to win by 70 points.
LAKE BOGA v KERANG
THE faint finals hopes of either Lake Boga or Kerang will be dashed Saturday afternoon, with the vanquished set to be punted from top five calculations for this season.
With both teams sitting on just three wins, it would take a monumental turn around in form for either team to reach the finals, with an unbeaten run from Saturday onwards set to get them to nine wins and give them a sniff at least.
That scenario won’t happen, but a win will at least give either side a much-needed boost of confidence after heavy losses last Saturday.
Lake Boga will lose Kadek Irvan and Shannon O’Reilly for Saturday’s match, with Rory Colville and impressive youngster Max Caruso set to return.
Kerang will be far from full strength either, with Rylee Gitsham and Marty Kelly among a host of injured or unavailable Blues for the must-win match.
While Kerang remains capable of kicking a winning score, with Zak Bozanich and Bohden McKnight both dangerous up forward, it’s the Magpies’ ability to win the ball around the contest through the likes of Braden Padmore, Zac Warne, Koben Ryan and Ryan Fox that should give them a slight advantage on Saturday.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by nine points.
