By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREVIEW – ROUND 19 WEST DIVISION
NAR NAR GOON v KOOWEERUP
WITH just three rounds to play out in the EDFL West home and away season, the top four has essentially already been decided. Cora Lynn is two wins clear of Kooweerup in top spot, with the Goon and the Stars two games adrift of the Demons. Bunyip has three games left to play but is three wins and a fair whack of percentage behind Garfield.
Round 19 is highlighted by two mouth-watering contests involving the top-four sides. With a superior percentage to the Demons, the Goon hasn’t dismissed the possibility of claiming a top two spot by season’s end – though the chances are highly unlikely.
“That game is another big challenge for us,” said Goon coach Scott Goldsworthy about the contest.
“I’d written off a top-two spot and I still kind of have – we have to rely on other results going our way – but if we beat Koowee we’re only a game behind and they still have to play Garfield.
“With three to go we’re three games clear (inside the top four), plus percentage, so that’s good but it would be nice to sneak into the top two if things fall our way.
“If we beat Koowee then our hopes are still alive.”
Goldsworthy’s side has proven to be a strong dry-weather team and, at the time of going to print at least, this Friday and Saturday are predicted to stay rain-free.
This week’s game could be an absolute cracker on current form, but the Demons have won eight in a row and have already knocked off the Goon twice this season – including by 42 points when they last met at Spencer Street in Round 5. We have to tip Kooweerup again – by four goals.
GARFIELD v CORA LYNN
THE Cobras have lost two of the past three and will be smarting from Saturday’s result against the Goon. But they’re set to welcome back at least a couple of the half a dozen key contributors they had missing on the weekend. Jack Allen seemed to injure his knee in the closing stages of the Round 18 game but he trained on Monday and is set to line up again this week.
The Stars could be set to welcome back a couple of key contributors of their own this week though as they look to leapfrog the Goon into third spot.
Hendy’s men have at times looked unstoppable on their Beswick Street home deck this season but back in Round 5 the Cobras did a number on them to the tune of 72 points. While we’re not expecting the same thing to happen on Saturday, we are still predicting the Cobras to bounce back from their second loss in the past three weeks. Cora Lynn by 15 points.
LANG LANG v BUNYIP
WHILE not exactly at the blockbuster level of the other two Round 19 contests, Lang Lang’s game against Bunyip on Saturday could also be an enthralling one.
The Tigers will be hungry to cap off their final home game of the season in style, while the Dogs have had the week off to simmer even further over their 53-point Round 17-loss to the Demons.
The tale of the tape shows that in the corresponding game in Round 5 the Tigers took the chocolates by 45 points. They’ll be set to welcome back Leigh Cave and key forward Kurt Batt from suspension this week and this could be anyone’s game. In a toss of the coin – Lang Lang by a point.
ROUND 19 TIPS
Nar Nar Goon v KOOWEERUP
Garfield v CORA LYNN
LANG LANG v Bunyip
Catani – bye
