The first game sees the Inverell Saints travel to where Eagles dare in Narrabri. The Eagles have had only one hiccup this year against the Essential Energy TAFL Ladder leaders, the Kangaroos. The Saints have had only one win and are just hanging onto fifth place by percentage. The Eagles will be very determined to post their first win over Saints in years after their loss to the Kangaroos two weeks ago. After that loss they had the bye and then the long weekend to stew over the loss so I think it will be a big case of look out Saints. Eagles Coach, Phil Dennis, will have his team chomping at the bit for this game with the bonus being a chance to get back into second spot on the ladder. The Saints have definitely slipped this year but all clubs go through a down period and they have unearthed some upcoming stars of the future in Hamish Bird and Toby Tollis. Having lost Charlie McShane to an Achilles injury will hurt them though. Corey Borthwick should be fit for the game after his head clash against the Kangaroos and we will have to wait and see if Coach Nick Baird has overcome his hamstring injury. The Eagles boom recruit, Tim Cooper, will be hard to stop with the quality of ball he has been receiving from further afield.
Prediction: I think the Eagles will be too strong for the Saints to the tune of 33 points.
Tamworth's No.1 Oval is the scene of the traditional grudge match between the Kangaroos and the Swans. The Kangaroos are having a great season under the guidance of first year coach Tim Cotter. Cotter himself is relishing the challenge of coaching and playing, taking his game up a level as evidenced in Inverell when he kicked 7 goals. It's fair to say that the Swans season has been a disappointment thus far and Coach Gary Harriott knows that if he can't get his charges up for this game the season could nearly be over. The Swans only win has come over the Saints and while it was a big win they have struggled to reach that level of drive again. The Kangaroos have covered the loss of veteran Dan Overeem well since he injured his ankle and he will be a big bonus for them if he makes it back in time for the finals. Swans President and former backman, Josh McKenzie, has been very good for them up front this year and is sitting third in the chase for the Gerry Griffiths medal for the leading goal kicker. He will need to have fellow veterans Gavin Knee and Damien Wendt at the top of their games to give him the chance to convert and keep the Swans in with a chance in this game.
Prediction: I really can't see the Swans winning here, so the Kangaroos will go one up in the challenge for the Billy Holder Cup by 42 points.
The last game sees the New England Nomads travel down to the Kennel to take on the Gunnedah Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have been good this year with limited numbers. They won last time out against the Cats, but they didn't stamp their mark on the game. Their best advantage here is that they are at home and they have big Sammy Naismith. Naismith has just got better and better with each year since his breakthrough year in 2009 when was a joint winner in the Tony Gillies Medal. The Nomads big Botswanian ruckman, Omphile Temoso, has also improved since his debut and this will be an interesting battle. I think Naismith might have the edge in around the ground play over Temoso. The Nomads didn't have their best team on the ground last week and they will need to have their best to go up against the Bulldogs because they defend their Kennel very fiercely. If the Nomads Pearce boys, Dave Richards and Matty Bourke can deliver the ball lace out Weston Whitby then it will be all over for the Bulldogs before it begins. So thats the answer for the Bulldogs control the ball out of the centre bounces to restrict the amount of ball Whitby gets.
Prediction: I don't think the Bulldogs midfield is as good as the Nomads' and the Nomads will win by 19 points in a close game.
The Muswellbrook Cats have the bye this week.
Last Modified on 16/06/2011 21:53