KOONDROOK-BARHAM v LAKE BOGA
KOONDROOK-Barham will welcome back five key players for their must-win match against Lake Boga on Saturday.
In a match that could be considered a danger game for the home side, the Raiders will regain the services of Benji Neal, Lee Dale, Isaac Corvo and Daniel O’Connell, with Harry Bremner also set to return from Bendigo Pioneers duties.
Neal, Dale and Bremner will give Koondrook-Barham a major boost through the midfield and around the contest, which was an area where they performed quite well during their 15-point loss to NNW United last Saturday.
The one area that will be of significant concern for the Raiders heading into the finals is with their disposal, with turnovers accounting for 20 of the Demons 26 scoring shots last Saturday.
That is an alarmingly high number for a team planning on making finals, especially with a number of those turnovers coming from their defensive 50 exits and in dangerous areas.
Lake Boga will be missing key onballer Zac Warne for Saturday’s match in a major blow to the Magpies engine room, which will only be exacerbated by the Raiders inclusions.
The news isn’t all bad for Lake Boga, who will see Jayden Lonergan return to their forward line.
The key for the Magpies will be in getting their hands on the ball around the contest and giving their forwards plenty of supply, with Rex Hickman, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lonergan and onballer Braden Padmore all capable of hitting the scoreboard.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by 21 points.
BALRANALD v NNW UNITED
BALRANALD will be aiming to bounce back from their disappointing performance against Cohuna last weekend when they host reigning premiers Nyah-Nyah West United this Saturday afternoon.
It was the second time this season where the Roos have been monstered by the Kangas, with last Saturday’s 147-point rout seeing them score just one goal, two behinds for the match.
For a proud club such as Balranald, the one certainty is that they won’t stand for a result like that two weeks in a row, especially in front of their home supporters.
The Roos are expected to welcome Lachlan Bence and Will Lowry back into their team on Saturday, but it’s the Demons who will have the biggest inclusions, with premiership players Joel Walsh, Corey Daniels, Ethan Saville and Alex Erlandson all a chance to return.
While the quartet will need to get through training overnight to be declared fit, the NNW United hierarchy will also be keen to get a couple of games under their belts considering the Demons have the bye in the final round of the season.
Although the Roos top end talent is very good, their depth is of some concern when lined up against the depth of the reigning premiers.
NNW United’s forward line has been heavily reliant on Patrick Veszpremi in recent weeks, with Nick O’Neill also booting three goals last Saturday, but if they are to push deep into September, will need the likes of Alex Birch, Charlie Boulton and Riley Daniels to recapture their best form.
The fact that Balranald are getting senior games into their talented kids is a positive step in the right direction, but it also comes at a cost, which will most likely be paid on Saturday.
Tip – NNW United to win by 54 points.
SWAN HILL v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang will be looking to keep their finals chances alive with a third consecutive win when they play Swan Hill Saturday afternoon.
The equation is simple for the Saints, who need to not only beat the Swans on Saturday, but also defeat Koondrook-Barham and Woorinen in the final two rounds to be any chance of qualifying.
Although it is likely to all boil down to their match against the Raiders next weekend, Tooleybuc-Manangatang will need to focus on the job at hand on Saturday with any mis-steps from this point on will render their season over.
The good news is that Josh Williams is expected to return for the Saints after missing the last three matches with injury.
The bad news for supporters of the red, white and black is that Williams will replace young defender Julian Muir, whose season appears over after suffering a shoulder injury against Kerang last weekend.
Muir has proven himself to be among a fine crop of talented youngsters at the Saints, which also includes Rydar Morris, Kallum Hazlett and Jedd Morris.
Swan Hill also have a talented crop of juniors coming through their ranks, with Lane Cardenas, Harry Scott, Paddy Hufer, Jack Brown and Harry Graham all getting plenty of exposure at senior level this season.
Although Scott and Brown go into Saturday’s match in doubt after finishing last Saturday’s 171-point loss to the Mallee Eagles on the bench, the Swans are expected to welcome Tom Corridan, Will Burns, Matt Pearse and Sunny Handy back into their line-up.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by 66 points.
