Bunyip’s Kirsti Handley and Kooweerup’s Sarah Andrews battle for possession. 67931 Picture: Donna Oates
By Ken Moore
A BIG crowd will flock to Garfield on Saturday to witness the undefeated Stars battle it out against neighbours and fourth-placed Bunyip.
The Bulldogs will enter the game with both tension and anticipation.
Their chances cannot be dismissed lightly as they took it up to Garfield for three quarters when they last met in round two.
Bunyip’s strength is in its midfield runners who will appreciate the large expanses of the Beswick Street ground and the firm surface.
Garfield has suffered a massive blow with the loss of utility Ned Marsh to a knee injury and initial reports suggest his season is over.
Marsh is one of the more elite players in the league and he will be badly missed.
A rumour abounds that fellow forward Jim Bow, who has proved a match winner several times in recent years, may also be in doubt with injury.
Nevertheless, Garfield keeps going from strength to strength and until it shows a few cracks in its armour it is hard to go pass the home side.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CATANI V CORA LYNN
The embattled Blues are finally taking a few steps forward with three wins on the trot but their home ground clash against the Cobras will be an examination of their improvement over the past month.
Cora Lynn was superb last week against Nar Nar Goon. It responded to a number of Goon challenges and its ability to move the ball swiftly from end to end was entertaining to watch.
The Cobras have fashioned a strong side this season and appear to be working towards their peak and should comfortably account for the Blues, who have too much reliance on Owen Fitzpatrick to kick their goals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LANG LANG V BULN BULN
The Tigers will most likely again rest versatile forward recruit John Nicols (hamstring) this week but with Kurt Batt, David Williams and Dan O’Hara all in good nick, Lang Lang will still have more than enough avenues to goal.
When it comes to the crunch games against the top sides, Buln Buln hasn’t measured up and is likely to be on the receiving end of a bit of punishment.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:ELLINBANK V NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
Since being bundled out of the finals race the Bankers have lost a bit of appetite for the ball, which doesn’t bode well for their clash against the Cats.
Having not lost since round four, Neerim has graduated from finals contender to a genuine flag chance.
The Cats have been in an uncompromising mood and have delighted in mauling their opponents of late. Ellinbank is likely to be the latest to feel their might.
KOOWEERUP V POOWONG
The Demons have fallen in a hole over the past few weeks and aside from home-ground advantage it is near impossible to find any other positives to support their case to beat the Magpies.
It has taken all season but Poowong now appears to be finding its feet and will chalk up its eighth victory of the season and probably a sizeable one at that.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LONGWARRY V NILMA DARNUM
The Crows will line up against the Bombers with both teams missing at least half dozen of their top 21 and looking towards next year.
Longwarry hard men Grant and Leigh McDonald and Scott Hamilton are all injured and hence Nilma will fancy its chances.
The Darnos put in a respectable three quarters after conceding the first four goals against the Dusties in the opening term last week.
A question mark over the Darnos is whether the hard slog of playing every second week on their heavy ground will take it out of their legs.
The pacy Crows are likely to seize on this and set up forwards Luke Serong and Adam Pavlovic enough times to kick a winning score.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS V NYORA
The Dusties will need little motivation to beat the Saints. Victory will seal an elimination final and shut the door on Nar Nar Goon’s slim top six prospects.
While the Industrials have a habit of mixing their form, their opponents put in far too many poor and mediocre efforts.
The Dusties should have a 10-goal margin in their favour by the time the final siren sounds.
ROUND 17 TIPS:
GARFIELD v Bunyip
Kooweerup v POOWONG
Ellinbank v NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
LONGWARRY v Nilma Darnum
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v Nyora
LANG LANG v Buln Buln
Catani v CORA LYNN
Nar Nar Goon bye
