By JARROD POTTER
VFL PREVIEW – ROUND 15
CASEY SCORPIONS v NORTHERN BLUES
CASEY FIELDS, CRANBOURNE
SATURDAY 1 AUGUST, 2PM
EVEN with finals off the table, the Casey Scorpions still have a lot to play for in the wind-up of this year’s VFL season.
With it all going pear-shaped against Frankston two weeks ago, the Scorpions’ rebound needs to be strong for them to gain some pride heading into the final few games of the year.
Casey’s younger brigade has been a revelation, with Garfield’s Eddie Morris playing himself into AFL Draft consideration; while the Melbourne Demons’ usual campaigners – Max Gawn, Jack Fitzpatrick and James Strauss – all put their hands up as best afield against the Dolphins.
TAC CUP PREVIEW – ROUND 16
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS v DANDENONG STINGRAYS
WARRAWEE PARK, OAKLEIGH
SATURDAY 1 AUGUST, 1PM
A TOP of the ladder showdown at Warrawee Park will separate the top brass from the pretenders in the TAC Cup.
Dandenong Stingrays will vie with Oakleigh Chargers to help build a buffer as the Stingrays push towards the top of the TAC Cup ladder.
Coach Craig Black said it is never easy to take on the top tier clubs but it’s always in the best interest of the team heading forward.
“I think – like I said to the boys after the game – it’s a tough competition and you’ve got to look forward to the challenges,” Black said.
“We play another really good TAC Cup team and gives our boys another opportunity to go out against the best and see if they can perform at the top level and if they can we’ll be really happy.”
Narre Warren’s gravity-defying midfielder Toby Mclean and his Chargers team mates will take on the Stingrays from 1pm at Warrawee Park, Oakleigh.
GIPPSLAND POWER v NSW/ACT RAMS
MORWELL FOOTBALL GROUND, MORWELL
SUNDAY 2 AUGUST, 11AM
SIMILAR to the Scorpions, the season is all but over for the Power but teams need to remain buoyant as the last month of TAC Cup winds down.
The locals – Jake Smith (Pakenham), Todd Beck (Nar Nar Goon) and Gippsland best and fairest contender Tom Papley (Bunyip) – are the ones to look out for as the trio has all shown glimpses of talent this year.
Papley, the Bunyip midfielder/forward, has barely been sighted in the Ellinbank and District Football League this year after starring with the Power en route to kicking 18 goals for the year and averaging nearly 10 kicks and five handballs a game.
Smith will hope to get his second TAC Cup game of the year as he works towards top-age status next year with the Power, while Beck has been impressive defensively.
Facing the northern visitors is always a coin-flip prospect.
If NSW/ACT brings its best the Power will be challenged, but otherwise it would be a cakewalk.
No-one knows until the teams run out on the day so it’s all very up in the air.
