By Ken Moore
KOOWEERUP faces its stiffest test of the season when it travels to Garfield in this week’s match of the round.
The Demons have won three games on the trot and are beginning to exhibit a better structured line-up and chemistry between its players. While they have relied heavily on Ben Miller and Rhys Morgan, their midfield brigade of Gavin Marusic, Lachlan Gillespie, Dan Mullen, Josh Winter and Jack Carson have stepped up in recent weeks to add valuable support.
Unfortunately for the Demons, centreman Jason Williams, who starred early last week, injured his knee and seems likely to miss a few weeks. Kooweerup will quickly learn Garfield have plenty of chaps who rack up the hard ball gets and go about their work unnoticed but effectively. The likes of defenders Phil Burns, Jamie Ferguson, Rick Kamphius, and Nick Marsh are unfashionable types but all integral to the Stars line up.
The Stars were far from convincing last week and may lose Terry Mildren (hamstring) and Tim Mitchell (shoulder). Nevertheless, their attack on the ball and the body in the first half is likely to wear down the Demons and see them break clear in the second half.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NAR NAR GOON v CATANI
NAR NAR GOON are going about their work quietly, but confidently, and at home this week they will enter well deserved favourites against Catani.
The Goon will be weakened though, due to the suspension of key forwards Brett Dore and Chris Jones, who were reported last week and both opted to take a week. With the Blues having Luke James sidelined, the game has lost a fair bit of its lustre due to the withdrawals.
The jury is still out with regards to Catani. It has only beaten five of the six bottom sides and while it put up a top effort against Garfield, it was abysmal against the Warragul Industrials. Not the form to write home about. In contrast, Nar Nar Goon has been a model of consistency and is building an impressive record and should win at home.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BUNYIP v LANG LANG
THE Bulldogs injury woes continued last week when key forward Glen Browney injured his hamstring at training and tough defender and change ruck Jack Fitzpatrick sustained a bad shoulder injury, which doesn’t augur well for its clash against Lang Lang.
The Tigers have snuck up to eighth spot on the ladder, following successive wins over Kooweerup, Ellinbank and Nilma Darnum. While their form is solid rather than stunning, it is in better nick than the Bulldogs and should make in four victories in a row. Bunyip doesn’t possess the forward artillery to pose a threat.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:LONGWARRY v BULN BULN
A FEW weeks ago, the Crows might have fancied their chances against the Lyrebirds -but after two consecutive 100 point plus losses, it is impossible to make a case for a Longwarry victory. Buln Buln pushed Garfield all the way last week and if they play anywhere near that level again, should record a percentage boosting victory and keep their slender finals hopes alive. Buln Buln have an injury concern with defender Tom Randle (ankle), but is likely to bolster their side with the inclusion of pacy youngster Trent Baker and the experienced Dean Burnell, who both missed last week.
Tim Milner, Aaron Serong, Ben Cuckson and Ben Garritty have performed well for the Crows this season, however, more players need to lift if the home side wishes to pull off an upset.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NYORA v CORA LYNN
THE Saints have not lived up to their pre-season expectations and are staring down the barrel of a big defeat this week when they host the red hot Cobras.
To make matters worse for Nyora, rugged defender Andrew Collis popped his shoulder last week and ruckman Clint Wilson suffered a bout of concussion and both will miss. The Saints record suggests the talent drops off quickly at the bottom end of the list and they can ill-afford to miss players of the calibre of Collis and Wilson.
Collis would have picked up either Beau Runnalls or Matt Robinson, who have tormented defenders this season and will probably continue to give the Saint backmen grief this week. On exposed form, the best the Saints can hope for is to keep the end margin to less than 10 goals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
THE Dusties will be keen to put last week’s humiliating defeat against Cora Lynn behind it and this is a big danger game for the home side.
Neerim failed their only big test this season, against Garfield two weeks ago, and they will be keen to show fans they can measure up against a top team. There have been reports the Cats numero uno, Chris Urie, is favouring an injury and hence he is spending more time up forward. However, he has proved equally dangerous there, drilling through 10 majors last week to rip the guts out of the Crows.
The Dusties are too good a side to put in two insipid performances in a row and if they can play with the gusto they produced last home game – when they thrashed Catani – a sixth win beckons.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:NILMA DARNUM v ELLINBANK
THE Bombers will be hellbent on a home ground victory over the Bankers.
A loss would put Nilma in the unusual position where it could possibly go from premiers to bottom within 12 months. Ellinbank sit at the foot of the table, but its form is far better than a wooden spoon candidate.
It beat Buln Buln before its match points were withdrawn and has endured a series of narrow losses. Nilma will get back utility Harley Lacunes, but has suffered a big blow with the loss of Jed Costigan, who sustained a hamstring injury playing for the Casey Scorpions. He was a prime mover when the Bombers achieved their only victory this season against Buln Buln.
This game will go down to the wire and refreshed from the bye last week, I fancy Ellinbank to go home happy.
