By Ken Moore
THE minor premiership and flag favouritism will be up for grabs on Saturday when a stuttering Garfield meets second-placed and in-form Neerim Neerim South in the final round of the home-and-away season.
With a strong likelihood of teams meeting again in the grand final, it would come as no surprise if each was tempted to play “ducks and drakes” this week.
Both have already booked an appointment in a second semi-final and will use the match as an opportunity to swot up on the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.
Stung by losses to Bunyip and Poowong over the past fortnight, the Stars will be fired up to show they are still the kingpins. But Garfield does have injury concerns over Ned Marsh, Phil Burns and Dylan Collis and Nick Marsh was proppy after last week’s game.
All the same, while the Cats’ form is impeccable, they did struggle on the open spaces of Beswick Street last season – and the composition of their team has not changed a lot. I’ll tip Garfield to bounce back and win a heart-stopper.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS V CORA LYNN
THE Dusties will be out to atone for their round four loss to the Cobras, when they caved in and were thrashed by 91 points.
The Industrials still have a big question mark over them, because they also suffered large losses to Neerim Neerim South and Nar Nar Goon in big games. On the other side of the coin, they pushed Garfield for all bar five minutes of their encounter.
The Industrials have flirted with their form too many times to pick them with any confidence. Cora Lynn was in a ruthless mood last week. It looks to be in peak touch and should leave Tarwin Street with third position bedded down.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LANG LANG V NAR NAR GOON
THE Tigers face a tall order in ending the home-and-away season against the Goon.
Aside from narrow losses to Cora Lynn and Neerim Neerim South, Nar Nar Goon has been in good form over the past six weeks. The reigning premiers were left to curse seven losses by less than 20 points – and will likely play with a bit of extra desire borne out of missing finals action.
Lang Lang put in a poor display against Cora Lynn last week and it is hard to imagine it turning around its form in the course of seven days.
The Tigers badly missed Billy Hayes, Chris McCurdy, Jake Dwyer and John Nicols and will need all their players on deck if they are to be a threat. On form, Nar Nar Goon should win handsomely.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:KOOWEERUP V NILMA DARNUM
THE Demons will go in narrow favourites against the Bombers.
Keen to avoid the wooden spoon, Nilma will enter the match with plenty of incentive and must be a fair chance to win, because every now and then Kooweerup puts in an absolute shocker.
For the sixth time this season, the Demons were humiliated by more than 100 points last week, something that must irk their loyal fans.
Fortunately, the young Kooweerup team has shown to be a far better unit at home – and with the Bombers still well down on personnel, the Demons can end the season on a positive note in what could be closest game of the round.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LONGWARRY V BULN BULN
LITTLE appears to separate the Crows and the Lyrebirds and the team that enters the game with the most endeavour should prevail. On a scale of one-to-10, Longwarry has earned a rating of five this season, while Buln Buln warrants only three. Based on this assessment, greater goalscoring potency and home ground advantage, the Crows should make it three wins in a row to finish the season.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BUNYIP V POOWONG
THE Magpies will have to defy the odds if they are to beat the Bulldogs.
After last week’s shock defeat of Garfield, this match now takes on heightened interest. On the eve of the finals, Bunyip will be keen to keep the momentum going and is unlikely to drop its guard. Aside from its upset victory over the Stars, Poowong has flunked too many big tests this season – and will likely fall short again.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:ELLINBANK V NYORA
THE Bankers have had a frustrating run with injuries, but should finish the season on a bright note with victory over the Saints.
The interest in the game is on Nyora, which still has the chance to get off the bottom of the ladder as it trails Nilma Darnum by only half a percentage point.
This should ensure the Saints have a real crack, as they did against Longwarry in the last term on Saturday, but they have put in too many sub-standard performances to get this tipster on side.
ROUND 19 TIPS:
GARFIELD v Neerim Neerim South
KOOWEERUP v Nilma Darnum
ELLINBANK v Nyora
LONGWARRY v Buln Buln
Warragul Industrials v CORA LYNN
Lang Lang v NAR NAR GOON
BUNYIP v Poowong
Catani: bye
