By Ken Moore
WITH 10 teams vying for the six final spots, all matches in round nine – with the exception of Catani’s visit to Kooweerup – will have a big impact on shaping the ladder.
This weekend is easily the most engaging home-and-away fixture of the season – the highlight being the pitting of competition frontrunners Garfield at home against reigning premiers Nar Nar Goon.
Should the Stars win, they would have to fall in a heap to miss a top two, double-chance berth. Nar Nar Goon has now won four on the trot and is looking ominous.
A Goon loss, though, would put it in a precarious position where another loss would likely put an end to its double-chance prospects.
If the poor weather continues, the Goon will not be too concerned because it has the collective body strength to plough through a heavy ground and while Garfield are no duffers in the wet, as it showed last week against Cora Lynn, it would have a preference to play on a dry track where its quick play-on style is more likely to trouble the Goon.
Given the importance of the game, there is a every chance that the Stars will bolster their team this week with the inclusion of key forward Daniel Fry and experienced midfielder Shaun Pickering, who have been sidelined with minor injury.
Nar Nar Goon will enter the game without Inverloch recruit and forward Luke Reddie, also nursing an injury.
I’ve got a feeling Garfield’s hard game last week against Cora Lynn will take the edge off its game. The Goon had a walk in the park against Kooweerup last week and should enter the game the fresher and can spoil Garfield’s unblemished winning streak.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bunyip v Cora Lynn
WITH both coming off a defeat, the Bulldogs and the Cobras will be fired up and this match should be a beauty.
Both teams possess a quality midfield and defences that go about their business with a minimum of fuss.
The Bulldog forwards were down on form last week and along with some undisciplined play, which gifted Buln Buln too many 50m penalties, both these aspects of the home team’s game must improve if it is to knock over the Cobras.
Cora Lynn was left gutted after last week’s loss when it controlled play against Garfield for most of the second half, only to concede four late goals. Cora Lynn’s performance last week was better than Bunyip’s and with a better-structured forward set up, the visitors should win.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Kooweerup v Catani
LOCAL enemies the Demons and the Blues meet at Kooweerup. Both have disappointed in recent weeks and unusually both teams scored only one goal each last week.
If nothing else, Catani appears to have a better midfield and stronger defence and this should help it chalk up its second win for the season.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Ellinbank v Lang Lang
A TIGHT finish is expected when the Bankers host the Tigers. Ellinbank has shown in spurts this season that it has the ability to match it against the top sides but it continues to tease fans with erratic form.
Since it had the bye in round seven, Lang Lang has been down on form. It was thrashed by Warragul Industrials and fell in by the skin of its teeth against Longwarry on Saturday.
Ellinbank is itching to claim a big scalp and on the hunch that Lang Lang is now starting to feel the pinch, the Bankers can keep their push for a top six berth alive with a narrow victory.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Longwarry v Warragul Industrials
THE Crows will gear up to face the Dusties. Warragul appear to have the richer depth and more goal-scoring options.
Running over the form line, the Industrials comfortably beat Lang Lang in round seven, against whom Longwarry narrowly lost last week, which suggests the visitors should win with a bit in reserve.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Poowong v Buln Buln
THE Lyrebirds put a spoke in the wheel of Bunyip last week and will be out to do the same this week when visiting the Magpies’ nest.
Both teams have been far from convincing and both have lacked consistency.
Based on last week, Buln Buln fitness levels appear to have picked up in comparison with their early-season efforts but the familiarity of their home ground should see the Magpies seal their fifth victory.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Neerim Neerim South v Nyora
THE prolific ball-winning ability of Chris Urie, Leigh Sheehan, Cam Hinkley and Tyssen Morrow will overwhelm the Saints midfielders and ensure the Cats stay in touch with the top six.
Hard-at-the–ball Nyora defender Andrew Collis returned for his first game of the season on Saturday but it will take more than one good newcomer to repel the frequent Neerim forward thrusts.
round 9 TIPS:
GARFIELD v Nar Nar Goon
Bunyip v CORA LYNN
Kooweerup v CATANI
ELLINBANK v Lang Lang
Longwarry v WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS
POOWONG v Buln Buln
NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH v Nyora
Nilma Darnum bye
