By Ken Moore
NAR Nar Goon faces a demanding game when it travels to Ellinbank on Saturday.
The Bankers will enter the match brimming with confidence after pulling off a morale-boosting two-point victory over Cora Lynn last week.
The Bankers, who sport the same colours as the West Coast Eagles in the AFL, have had their ups and downs over the first six weeks, but last week showed the first tangible sign they were starting to click. The ball-winning ability of Terry Mildren, Josh Peterson and an improving Malcolm Dow should ensure this is a close contest.
The Goon also displayed signs of improvement over the past fortnight after three narrow losses in the first month of the season. With the grounds becoming heavier in recent weeks, body strength is important and Nar Nar Goon has this asset covered. The likes of Tom Hallinan, Ben and Matt Keane, Matt Slattery, Clint Williams and recruit Paul Youle should provide the Goon with the grunt required to return home with the four match points and keep in touch with the top six.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Longwarry v Catani
The Crows can mount a valid argument to beat the Blues. Longwarry has come back to earth with two successive losses but fans must still be pleased with their lot over the opening six weeks.
Catani must win otherwise it can kiss goodbye to its faint final chances.
The Blues put in a sustained effort for three quarters against the Dusties last week, as they have several times without finishing off its games. With the likely return of gun recruit Luke Tyrell, key forward Owen Fitzpatrick, key defender Shane Fitzpatrick and possibly Antonio Benvenuto, the Blues are likely to field a stronger line-up on Saturday.
The wet and chopped-up grounds don’t do the lightly framed Crows any favours and with their season on the line, the Blues can secure their second win in an encounter that may be in the balance until late in proceedings.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Kooweerup v Cora Lynn
The Demons will be out to make it two consecutive home victories under new coach Rhys Morgan, the replacement for Shane Newcombe, who stood down two weeks ago.
Unlike their last home victory over the poorly performed Nyora, this week’s challenge against the Cobras is a far more difficult assignment.
The Demons struggled last week and it is hard to make a case to pick them against Cora Lynn.
On the rebound from last week’s shock loss to Ellinbank, the sheer class and experience of the Cobras should come to the fore.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Garfield v Buln Buln
The Stars will bid for their seventh consecutive win when they play host to the Lyrebirds.
On form the home side should win comfortably.
Buln Buln appreciated the give in the ground last week that saw many of its experienced players, led by Daniel Charles and Dean Burnell, exhibit their footy smarts against Kooweerup but Garfield is a vastly difficult proposition.
The Stars are also likely to bolster their team with the return of Daniel Fry and Shaun Pickering, who both missed last week’s game.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Warragul Industrials v Lang Lang
The Dusties will shape up to the vastly improved Tigers. The Industrials have only played one team in the top six – Cora Lynn – in round four and failed dismally. Lang Lang has shown few weaknesses and fresh from the bye it should have the personnel to return home with its undefeated record preserved.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Poowong v Nilma Darnum
With only the one victory, the Magpies have not lived up to the pre-season expectations of many punters but should still have too much talent for the Bombers. The Bombers have half a dozen good performers that would command a game in any club but drop off badly at the lower end of its list. The Magpies should keep alive their slim hopes of keeping in touch with the top six.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bunyip v Nyora
You have to admire the efforts of Bunyip in the first six rounds. The Bulldogs don’t know when they are beaten and have conjured five victories to unexpectedly sit firmly in fourth spot. Nyora has shown a bit in glimpses but on form it is hard to envisage the Saints upsetting the home side.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Round 7 tips:
GARFIELD v Buln Buln
Kooweerup v CORA LYNN
Ellinbank v NAR NAR GOON
Longwarry v CATANI
Warragul Industrials v LANG LANG
POOWONG v Nilma Darnum
BUNYIP v Nyora
Neerim Neerim South: bye
