Game 1 is at Tamworth's No.1 Oval between the Swans and the Narrabri Eagles. In round 3 the Eagles soared over the Swans out west by 62 points and were on a high on top of the ladder. This time round the Eagles are struggling slightly and the Swans have been not too far away in the last couple of weeks. The Eagles started well last week and should have gone on with the job. The undermanned Swans were good against the Saints in the first half last week and really good for the first half of the third quarter kicking 5 goals before the Saints scored their first. The Eagles need to win this one to get their season back on track. They won't be happy that they now sit in fifth place one game behind the Bulldogs, Saints and Nomads who are all tied for second. If they can get up in this game then they will at least be back on level terms with the Saints. The Swans can mathematically make the finals but in reality have little to no chance. But because they know that they will have September off it has given them the freedom to play with a more free spirit style and it nearly worked last week against the Saints.
Prediction: The Eagles have to win and the Swans are just playing for fun. I think that the Swans will get up for their second win of the year by 16 points.
Game 2 is down at the Cattery between the Cats and the Nomads. Last time the in Armidale the Nomads thumped the Cats by 125 points. That was the Cats greatest losing margin for year until last week's 153 point drubbing by the Kangaroos. We all know the Cats have improved this year and 3 weeks ago I would have thought they would have a chance of winning here. But since then they have lost some players and they have lost their last 2 game at home, I think they will be pushing it to win this one. The Nomads are coming off the bye and after thumping the Eagles the week before and knocking off the previously unbeaten Kangaroos the week before that they are will be looking to continue their climb. At the start of the year I tipped the Nomads to finish third, now though if the Kangaroos slip up and lose one more game then the Nomads will finish top of the heap. Brendan Meehan has the Nomads playing good team footy at the moment and it is getting better by the week. With Dave Richards in the team this year the pressure has been lifted from Weston Whitby as the main avenue to goal. Then throw in the Pearce boys, Hamish and Darby, Omphile Temoso in the ruck and a tight back half and the Cats are going to find the game very hard indeed.
Prediction: The Nomads won't let this one slip and will win by 68 points.
Game 3 is at the Kennel with the Bulldogs hosting the Kangaroos. Last time the Kangaroos won by 27 points with the Bulldogs pushing them all the way until they were keep goalless in the last quarter. Since then the Kangaroos have only the loss against the Nomads as the blemish to their season. The Bulldogs have gone from strength to strength, all the while being undermanned most of the time. Since round 5 the Bulldogs have only lost, in gallant fashion, to the Saints while beating the Nomads. I think Peter Chapman has his Bulldogs playing for each other in a us against them style. It is working well for them and with the young talent that they have it will get better. The Bulldogs are in the finals, that is guaranteed, and they are looking for their first ever home final and a win here will go a very long way to achieving that goal. The Kangaroos stumble against the Nomads could have been the loss they had to have as the saying goes. It is very hard to go through a season undefeated, just ask the Saints of 2007. The Kangaroos took it right up to the Saints in the 2007 GF and it looked they could upset them at one stage. So with the loss that pressure has eased and now they can concentrate on their main aim, the 2011 premiership.
Prediction: If the Bulldogs are to be serious about their 2011 campaign they need to win here and I think they can by 5 points.
Last Modified on 13/07/2011 22:32