Narre Warren’s Aaron McIver kicked three goals for the Magpies in their 112-point thrashing of Keysborough on Saturday and is one of several dangerous forwards that Doveton will have to watch this weekend. 82665 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Doveton v Narre Warren
HOW LONG Doveton can play its best football, against the best of opposition, will again be tested this week when the Doves open the gates of Robinson Oval to Narre Warren.
The Doves were competitive for 15-minutes at the start of last week’s match with Cranbourne before it was carved up. Only a face-saving last quarter restricted the damage to less than three-figures.
Was that an aberration or are the third-placed Doves really that far off the pace? Let’s face it, their aim this year was to make the finals, to win one would have been a bonus, but they find themselves with an elevated level of expectation, more from the undoing of others than the doing of their own.
We find out this week where they really stand, on their own dung-hill, where they’ve fought the odds before and come out on top.
The odds of Doveton coming out on top this week are implausible to say the least – against a massively talented opponent who is looking to develop a killer-instinct.
The Magpies have dominated every team it’s played this year, including Cranbourne, but have a habit of being kind when they should be cruel. A last quarter fade-out against the Eagles was due to pressure but lack-lustre performances against Tooradin and a last-quarter shocker against a softened-up Keysborough last week could cost it top spot on the ladder, and a valuable weeks-rest heading into the finals.
The Magpies have stars all over the park and it’s difficult to see where the Doves might gain an advantage. Andrew Hunter has not been beaten this year in his key defensive role and along with Ben King, Col McNamara, Kain Baskaya and Jackson Parker provides a combination of stopping power with attacking flair for the visitors.
Doveton key-forwards Kevin McLean and Nathan Wilson were well beaten last week but were certainly not on their own with its mid-field exposed by the Eagles. Michael Henry, Nick Visser, Sean Semmens, Beau Wheeler, Ryan Pearson and Beau Wheeler will be looking to bounce back quickly this week.
Doves coach Hayden Stanton has so many questions to answer when he looks at the Narre forward line. Who takes Baskaya? Who goes to Scanlon? Who’s left for McIver? Do I rob Peter to pay Paul with Wilson?
The list goes on, and on, and on.
Narre Warren comfortably.
