By Ken Moore
INTERLEAGUE game over, it’s back to business in the Gippsland Football League on Saturday, with a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash between Sale and the visiting Drouin.
The undefeated Magpies have dominated on the scoreboard this season, but the Hawks can be expected to give them a bit of a hurry up.
Drouin proved it could cut it with the best in last year’s final series – and if it can reproduce similar form, an upset would be at no big odds.
Sale has found little trouble kicking goals, so the key to Drouin’s chances will be to stop the supply lines to key forwards Matt Ferguson, Peter MacFarlane and Brenton Martin.
If any team can do this, Drouin can. In Andy Soumilas, Pat McGrath, Sam Proctor and Daniel Barrand – and a very good support crew – the Hawks have the ammunition to seize control of the midfield.
Emerging Sale ruckman Toby Leeds, who pulled up sore after round five and was rested last round, will be a vital cog to give the Magpies on-ballers first use of the ball. Another Magpie tall Nick Fowler, who was ill last round, will also return.
Drouin should go in with close to its best line up. Sale has performed when it matters this season and until it starts to show a few cracks in its armour, it is hard not to pick the home side.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Wonthaggi v Maffra
MAFFRA can expect a hostile welcome when it treks to Wonthaggi.
The home side has shown enough to suggest it is among the top five contenders and doesn’t mind softening up its opponents with vigorous attack on the ball and body.
Assuming both teams break even in most positions – and it comes down to the team with the greater forward potency – Maffra’s Brent Connolly, Daniel Bedggood and Daniel Stubbe may just have a tad more firepower than Wonthaggi spearheads Matt Kremmer, Ryan Underwood and Andrew Winter.
This will be a ding-dong tussle, but Maffra’s big-game experience will see it home by less than 12 points.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Warragul v Traralgon
TRARALGON will be bidding for its third successive victory when it travels to Warragul.
After a middling start to the season, the Maroons are back in business after back-to-back wins over Maffra and Wonthaggi. A repeat of their form over the past two weekends should bring victory, but the Gulls’ chances cannot be dismissed.
New Traralgon coach Josh Jennings suffered an injury to his AC joint 10 minutes into the opening round and will miss again – along with half-forward Michael Geary (foot), but the visitors can be content with the fact that the two will re-energise the team in a few weeks.
The Maroons share the goals around, which makes them a hard team to match up on and this is one of their strengths. Rising star Tom Muir and another 17-year-old, Ryan Buttner, a pacy forward who kicked four goals against Leongatha in round four, will return.
Both missed last week because of their “deb” ball. Warragul pushed both Drouin and Moe for three-and-a–half quarters in recent weeks and are knocking on the door of victory. But the Maroons’ edge in experience will probably see the locals suffer another close loss.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bairnsdale v Leongatha
BAIRNSDALE will be out to keep its spot in the top five when it meets Leongatha. The Redlegs need to take stock after successive losses and home fans should get a better idea this week if the league newcomers are starting to feel the pinch.
Early-season star Luke Dyer will return and the Redlegs may be tempted to introduce a few newcomers after the successful debut of thirds star Andrew Nelson last round.
The Parrots’ run and carry and their ability to surprise opponents by switching play, will give the home side plenty to think about. The ball-winning ability of Tom Marriot, Colin Sanbrook and Beau Vernon in tandem with multiple forward options in Nic Nagel, Zac Griffiths and Chris Verboon, should deliver the Parrots their third victory.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Morwell v Moe
MORWELL will host its old sparring partner Moe on Sunday. The Tigers will need to show more grit and determination than they did against Drouin in round six when they surrendered meekly after quarter-time.
To aid their cause, last week’s break gave them time to reflect and reload while the likely return to the line-up of runners Tim Ryan, Mannon Johnson and Jake Roe-Duggan and Michael “Funky” Duncan should give them more bite around the packs.
Daniel Hutchison (medial) is still a month away from returning. Defenders Jason Stevens and Jack Brown have excelled this season, but at the other end of the park, the Tigers are screaming out for more goalscoring power.
Michael “Chunky” Duncan (three goals out of only six last round) went forward with success, but he needs a few teammates to pitch in if the home side is to win.
A wet day may help the Tigers, based on their victory over Leongatha in round five, when the ground was heavily saturated and slippery. Moe’s recruitment of defender Kane Airdrie paid dividends last week, because it allowed the versatile Ashley Payne to play forward and alongside the well-performed Ryan Donaldson and Tom Johnson.
With the likelihood of a three-pronged attack again, the Lions suddenly look a lot more potent around the big sticks and can make the short trip home with the four points.
round 7 TIPS:
Warragul v TRARALGON
Wonthaggi v MAFFRA
SALE v Drouin
Bairnsdale v LEONGATHA
Morwell v MOE (Sunday)
