EDFL round 11 preview

By Ken Moore
CORA Lynn’s home clash with last season’s premier Catani takes top billing this week. Catani is a good honest yardstick so, by 5pm Saturday, the Cobras’ supporters should have a fair idea whether they pose a genuine threat this season or are pretenders. Catani has put in three successive workmanlike performances to beat Buln Buln, Kooweerup and (last week) Ellinbank but it is not playing any where near its best. Cora Lynn’s starladen forward line should have the edge over a Catani defence that still does not look settled, having lost Shane Fitzpatrick and Peter Atkinson before the season and Nathan Ruskin, who only returned for his first game last week. Cora Lynn has the midfielders to match Catani’s hard onball division and, stung by last week’s loss to Kooweerup, it can bounce back to retain its hold on third position.
With a number of key players having returned last week and Mark Hoult and Dean Forsyth expected to come in this week, Bunyip should have a tad too much class for Buln Buln. On the downside, the Bulldogs have suffered a big blow, Daniel Hagen succumbing yet again to the troublesome quad injury he has carried all season. It is a huge match for both clubs. If Bunyip loses it can wave goodbye to any slim hope it had to obtain a double chance and Buln Buln will be out to protect its spot in the top six. Buln Buln is likely to be bolstered by the return of Dale Brew, Barry Zeldenryk and Paul Morrissey. The Lyrebirds have goers in Brent Eastwell, Michael Pratt, Paul Hasan and Anthony Baker but Bunyip has overcome its midfield deficiencies this season and with Troy Holmes, Aaron Henwood and Peter Davenport it should find the ball often enough to get the points.
Poowong faces the daunting prospect of hosting Nyora and there has been a lot to like about the Magpies in recent weeks. This week they are a big chance to field their experienced forward trio of Rohan Best, Luke James and Matt Joseph for the first time, however their presence was likely to be just a nuisance to the league pacesetter, Nyora, which could not have been any more impressive against Longwarry last week.
The draw has done NilmaDarnum no favours. The Bombers, despite home advantage, will play Longwarry, a team still smarting after its first loss last week at the hands of Nyora. The Crows will be jaded from last week’s physical game and are likely to experiment with their lineup, however they will win by a large margin.
At home, Lang Lang must be a chance to record its third win when it greets Warragul Industrials. Both teams have been largely disappointing and are two or three quality midfielders short of the sides in and around the top six. Knowing it is winnable game, both are likely to put more preparation into the game. The Dusties’ captaincoach Steve Pursell is likely to return and his onfield leadership will sway the result in their favour.
Ellinbank will be desperate to keep its slender finals prospects alive and this incentive will see it account for NeerimNeerim South who enters the game with newfound optimism having won its last two matches. The Eagles clawed their way back into the contest against Catani last week and showed enough to suggest they will beat the Cats.
Nar Nar Goon has displayed improvement, led by talented youngsters who are coming along nicely, but it is a few key position players short of matching this week’s opponent Kooweerup. The Goon is likely to miss Andrew Oldmeadow, who was called up to play for Gippsland Power last week and should retain his spot in the side to meet the Murray Bushrangers this week. Buoyed by last week’s stunning 11goal last quarter to steal victory over Cora Lynn, the Demons can go into the game with renewed confidence. Despite last week’s heroics, Kooweerup is still outside the top six. The Demons have a difficult run home, cannot afford to drop this game and must beat all the teams below them on the ladder if it is to secure a finals berth.