Rams fresh for redemption clash
Redemption will be high on the agenda in the clash down the Western Highway between Horsham District league outfits Swifts and Natimuk United.
The Baggies’ battle last week with Kalkee was a slugfest for third spot and Swifts were spanked; scoreless for the first quarter and goal-less for the first half.
Natimuk United should be fresh for the clash as it comes off an interleague bye and then the home-andaway round bye last week.
The Rams had a few battered bodies, none more so than coach and playmaker Sam Anson. The break could not have come at a better time for him and possibly key forward Jayden Stiles.
Last outing the Rams took it right up to Kalkee and have pushed another top side Harrow-balmoral this season, so they will head down the highway chock-full of confidence.
Swifts coach Scott Carey will not be far from gracing the park again after a broken arm earlier in the season.
Swifts badly need his leadership out on the ground as another loss could see them slip out of the top six, which is almost unfathomable for one of the pre-season premiership favourites.
Both sides are locked on three wins each for the season, but the Rams have the superior percentage. For the winner, their season stays on course, for the loser, they will need to take stock and look for a solution very quickly before it’s too late.
Top of the table awaits the winner of the clash between early season league heavyweights Harrow-balmoral and Jeparit-rainbow up in the Mallee.
The Southern Roos are a shadow of last year’s side, with roughly only six players still in the side from last year’s grand final. Yet, as good sides do, they adjust and bring in more soldiers and once again the Roos sit with seven wins from seven games.
So far this season the Roos have accounted for three other sides in the top six and from all reports it was Nick Pekin in possibly his best game for the club since crossing from Horsham that got them over the line against Laharum.
Jeparit-rainbow, under the tutelage of Tim Inkster and the addition of a few new recruits, has gone about its season so far in an efficient manner, but as mentioned have only played one side in the top six.
But, the Storm can only control what is put in front of it and it has ruthlessly done that so far.
Key battles loom all over the ground, Todd Lawrence and Anthony Close get to confront Sam Cranna and Daniel Batson in the ruck, and at their feet Nick Pekin and Will Plush will butt heads with Shane Maslin and Tom Eichner.
Both sides have had numerous injuries, but if the Roos can get key players Simon Close and Hamish Ellis onto the ground, they might just hold sway.
Expect a riveting clash as the repercussions for the loser might be huge as they possibly fall outside of the top two.
Other games should go to script; Laharum on the back of a very competitive effort against Harrow-balmoral should carry too much firepower for Taylors Lake. The Demons were in control last week for three quarters before being overrun, but coach Robbie Miller would be expecting a four-quarter performance this week.
With a good percentage the Demons need to start amassing premiership points and after a couple of lean weeks without any, expect them to put another four next to their name this week and throw their names back into the mix for a top-six position.
Napping in the first quarter last week ended Edenhope-apsley’s four match winning streak and pushed it down to sixth spot on the ladder.
The Saints make the road trip to Pimpinio and with percentage required to move up the ladder will not hold back against a Pimpinio side that has been competitive for quarters of games but not able to string the full game together.
Pimpinio will need coach Nathan Sasche playing if it is to have any chance against the Saints, but it will be futile as Edenhope-apsley has been playing some very good football and should record a big win.
In the last game of the round Noradjuha-quantong will get to see how far the distance is between itself in seventh, and Kalkee, who with a good win can march into the top two.
Kalkee slapped away the Swifts challenge effortlessly last week and there is a feeling out on the plains that the Kees are building momentum and will be a real premiership threat.
Noradjuha-quantong has nothing to lose. In recent weeks the Bombers have played good football and could pose a threat to sides if they are not take seriously, but at present their depth might not match Kalkee’s and the red and blue should leave Bomberland with the four points in the bank and possibly a position in the top two.