Sunbury Kangaroos v Romsey
at Boardman Reserve
Last time they met
Round 8, Romsey Park: Sunbury Kangaroos 14.9 (93) d. Romsey 7.8 (55)
Last week
Sunbury Kangaroos - The Roos were challenged by the Tigers in a strong physical clash at home. The Tigers led by two points at half time in a bruising encounter before the experience of Bobby Johnson and Matt Wlesh lifted the Roos in the second half for a strong and gutsy 28 point win. Ryan Hatty kicked three goals for the match to send him shooting into the top 10 goal kickers of the season to date. He has been in impressive touch over the course of the season and has kicked multiple goals on nine occasions from 12 matches. This speaks volume about his consistency as a player over the last 12 months. Dan Gregory impressed in the backline and held John Baker goalless. The win opened up a three game gap between them and fourth place and keeps their hopes of a doubles chance alive.
Romsey - The Redbacks battled bravely for three quarters against the Cats at home last week before the experience of the Cats line-up powered away in the final term to record a comfortable win. They desperately missed the McInerney brothers last week and Craig Robbins who has added some great spark to their midfield and half forward. Bryson Scales showed that he has a bright future ahead of him with two goals. Not bad for an Under 18.5s star that crossed to Macedon to Gisborne then across to Romsey in recent times. He has found a home up forward and is a handy backman. Jake Gallagher starred in his first Senior game of football and has all the makings of a potential star for many years to come at a high level.
THE GAME
Romsey is still undermanned with injuries to key personnel and a lack of match fitness in returning stars. However, it is games like these where the Redbacks can dig deep to chalk up an inspirational victory. The players on the park will step up and have the skills to match the reigning premiers, the Sunbury Kangaroos. The Roos have dropped just two games this year and will fancy a chance to lock in a spot with the top two. Percentage is everything in the coming weeks and they have two massive tasks in Romsey and Riddell before the finals. If they can notch a win against either, they will have a great psychological advantage heading into the finals. Expect the Sunbury Kangaroos to win but it will not be without an amazing fight from the best side of the last four years, Romsey.
Catch this game on 88.1 FM at the ground/ 100.7 Highlands FM or - highlandsfm.org.au
Kilmore v Melton Centrals
at JJ Clancy Reserve
Last time they met
Round 3, MacPherson Park: Melton Centrals 9.13 (67) d. Kilmore 4.6 (30)
Last week
Kilmore - The Blues showed tremendous fight and spirit in their 10 goal loss to Broadford. The Roos kicked away in the second half but the efforts of the Blues in the first half to battle it out against a finals contender was to be admired. They were riding high after their successful fighting effort agains the Pies a week earlier and showed similar efforts against Broadford. Alex Desmond and Nick Sheldon were clear stand-outs for the afternoon and Matt Lawson was at his silky best. They were brave in defeat and expect them to come out firing in their final home game of the season.
Melton Centrals - The Centrals impressed in the first half against Diggers Rest before being outscored by five goals in the second half, which was the eventual margin of the match. Adam Fenton starred with five goals while Chris Carassellos impressed in the midfield. Adam Hunter has been one of the more impressive stars in the team this year and his overhead marking ability has to be admired and was so on the weekend. The second half fade-out against the Burras has left their finals hopes in jeopardy and Adam Fenton kicked five of their seven goals. He needs more support this week.
THE GAME
Percentage is everything for the Centrals. There are six teams battling for two spots and the Centrals have one of the smallest percentages out of teams battling for that spot in the top six. Kilmore is on the march and will feel confident knowing that a win can shape the make-up of the finals. Melton Centrals will host Romsey next week and if they want to have any chance on making the top six, they need to beat Kilmore by a big margin and have a great run of momentum when they take on Romsey next week, but they won't have an easy task against the winless Kilmore.
Catch the game on 88.1FM at the ground/ 98.3OKR FM arond the Mitchell Shire and - okrfm.com.au
Riddell v Wallan
at Riddells Creek Reserve
Last time they met
Round 11, Greenhill Reserve: Riddell 21.15 (141) d. Wallan 7.6 (48)
Last week
Riddell - The Bombers will be fresh off the bye and ready to take on the emerging Pies. Riddell suffered its opening loss of the season when they fell to Diggers Rest two weeks ago. They had an inexperienced line-up on the paddock but you did not need to be a blind Freddy to feel the high level of disappointment that the club felt about the efforts of the players on the day. Matt Pannuccio was a stand-out after stepping up from a six goal haul in the Under 18.5s the previous week and if he gets his chances today, he will impress again and perhaps make a claim for a spot in the Senior team for the finals campaign. He has the ability and he showed plenty of that in Riddell's loss to Diggers Rest.
Wallan - The Pies were ultra impressive in their win against Woodend/Hesket last week. Goals were hard to come by in the first 30 minutes of play but with aid of a strong wind, that changed in a heart-beat. The Pies kicked eight straight goals in a blistering 15 minutes of football to end the game as a contest at half time. Brent Hanson was impressive across half back, Damien Korp was at his sensational best and Shannon McCleish was strong at half forward. They impressed with their endeavour and attack at the ball and that's the sort of aggression a finals team need.
THE GAME
The Bombers will be keen to keep their spot on the top of the ladder and finish the season as minor premiers. They have Diggers Rest and the Sunbury Kangaroos breathing down their neck and face the latter at home in the final round of the home and away season. The Pies have shown some great endeavour in recent weeks under the coaching brilliance of Trevor Frost but his opposing mastermind at the Bombers, Troy Scoble, might just have a few more aces up his sleeve. Riddell is a more balanced team and features more runners. These factors should be enough to get the Bombers over the line and any percentage that they can gain along the way will be crucial to securing their spot in the top two.
Rupertswood v Lancefield
at Salesian College, Rupertswood
Last time they met
Round 3, Lancefield Reserve: Rupertswood 17.17 (119) d. Lancefield 9.13 (67)
Last week
Rupertswood - Rupo were bold and daring n their last hit-out two weeks ago in horrendous conditions against the Sunbury Kangaroos. They kicked just one goal for the game, in the final term, in a match where goals were golden where just six were kicked. Chris Kendall and Nick Agnello were headline performers in the loss as the Sunbury Kangaroos kicked away to a 25 point win, a margin that hardly fluctuated from quarter time. Jesse Ramsay was the only goal kicker of the day in a team that desperately missed Leigh Brennan.
Lancefield - The Tigers roared loudly in their clash against the Sunbury Kangaroos but unfortunately couldn't get over the line despite a brave effort from all players. John Baker was not able to get on the goal sheet after being well held by Dan Gregory. Chris Collins was at his usual sensational best while Brad Wight's attack at the ball was as good as any game he has played this season. Tevita Fonua was another stand-out and has been one of those in and under players that the Tigers have valued all season. The Burkett brothers, Chris and Matt were remarkable in the loss.
THE GAME
This is the game of the round and will have the greatest impact on the finals. If the Tigers win, they will push one game clear of seventh-placed Rupertswood and feel confident of making finals, even if they lose to Riddell in their final game next week. If Rupertswood wins, it will move into the top six and will likely win at least one of its remaining two games to stay in the top six. Going by these factors, there is no other game for the remainder of the season where there is so much riding on the outcome. Rupertswood have the home ground advantage and that will be enough to give them the edge and the confidence to take victory. However, Lancefield has been impressive all season and has pushed some of the best sides in the competition all year, including chalking up a win over Diggers Rest in recent weeks. Good luck tipping a winner for this clash.
Macedon v Rockbank
at Tony Clarke Reserve
Last time they met
Round 12, Ian Cowie Reserve: Rockbank 9.8 (62) d. Macedon 8.3 (51)
Last week
Macedon - Just how good were the Cats last week in that final term? They kicked 6.11 to Romsey's 1.2 to run away to a 47 point victory in a remarkable performance. Darren Goodwin and Josh Clough worked brilliantly in the midfield while Jack Kernan was again rock solid across half back. Al Meldrum stepped up with five goals as the Cats just had too much run for the Redbacks after half-time to lock in fifth position on the ladder at the completion of the round. They kicked their second highest score of the season and it could have easily been more if their kicking was on target in the last term. Perhaps the Macedon that we've come to expect from at the start of the season is starting to peak at the right time of year?
Rockbank - The Rams are fresh off a week's rest and ready to hit the ground full of running in the remaining three weeks. A place in the finals is possible if the results go their way and that they can defeat Macedon, Kilmore and Broadford in the remaining weeks. They have won five of their last seven games, including a gritty eight point win over Melton Centrals two weeks ago. They will go into this clash feeling very confident.
THE GAME
Rockbank toppled Macedon at home four weeks ago in a gripping contest. They kicked away in the final few minutes to record a great win and the duo of Jake Armistead and Anthony Long were stars on the day. The Cats have hit back with some brilliant form in recent weeks, enough to suggest that they are a finals contender and have learnt a great lesson from their defeat to Rockbank. It won't be that easy for the Cats as the Rams have a great running team and they will look to use their recent round 12 win as inspiration to do it again. Macedon coach, Al Meldrum, has been in terrific goal-kicking form while Ash Fleming and Adam Cusworth have been in fine touch as key talls around the ground that Rockbank will have difficulty finding match-ups for. This will be a great match and both teams are in fine form. It could go down to the wire.
Last Modified on 02/08/2013 13:11