Dove day afternoon

By Brad Kingsbury
AS Eddie Maguire would say – a week is a long time in football – but a fortnight’s even longer if you’re a Doveton supporter.
Every Casey Cardinia follower, especially those from Pakenham, Cranbourne, Narre Warren and this weekend’s opponents, Berwick, will be scrutinising everything that happens at the Robinson Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
And let’s not beat around the bush – they will all be looking for cracks in the unity that has, to date, seen the Doves remain undefeated on top of the ladder.
After two weeks of internal turmoil, thanks to fallout from an incident at a social function, there is only one way for Doveton players to answer the questions that everyone is asking – beat Berwick with the on-field discipline and authority that they have beaten all comers with this year.
Just to add a bit more spice to the day, it has long been earmarked as the round in which the Doves acknowledge their long and successful association with the indigenous community in the area with a ceremony to be held between the reserves and senior games to honour the club’s recently announced Indigenous Team of the Half Century.
And, as if there needs to be anything else to cloud thoughts, a loss in this game will almost certainly cost the Doves top spot and the double chance.
Berwick coach Glenn Dale was not interested in talking about anything other than football when asked his thoughts on the big match.
“When Doveton get on the ground, what’s happened off it doesn’t matter,” he said.
“We still have to beat them and to do that we will have to play really well. We can take it to them and we proved that last time, but they aren’t where they are by chance.”
Doveton should be at or near full strength with Danny Casset expected to make his long-awaited return to the team, while Dale said that Berwick star Jason Heath would also be a definite starter.
Dale is right, the Doves can do what they like off field, but on it they have been awesome this season and at home that’s unlikely to change as they start their push for the 2009 premiership.
Devon Meadows v Cranbourne
THIS is a match in which feelings always rise to the top.
Cranbourne is playing for third position and Devon Meadows is playing to avoid last position and it could easily have been the nominated match of the day.
How the Panthers could possibly be looking at 11th is beyond anyone’s guess, given they have drawn with Doveton this year and pushed some of the league’s best to a few points.
That’s the way the season has gone and Cranbourne coach Doug Koop knows it will be a battle royal.
“We just have to go out and do the job again,” he said. “There is a fair rivalry between the two sides, but we just have to be disciplined and concentrate on doing the things that win games of football.”
With third place on the line and confirmation that Cranbourne is back as a power, the Eagles should overcome the emotion and win, however an upset in this one would not be a major surprise.
Narre Warren v Keysborough
NARRE Warren must beat Keysborough at Fox Road to retain any hope of a top-three finish.
The way the Burra has finished off the season that will be a hard ask, however if the Magpies can reproduce the type of football they played last weekend, they will win and do it with conviction.
That was also the opinion of acting captain Brett Evans.
“Keysy have been in good form, but we’ll just ask for a really strong effort again and get the running game going. If we do that for four quarters we can stretch any side and we know that,” he said.
The Pies will likely be strengthened by the inclusion of Steve Kidd and that should provide the extra grunt to match the bigger-bodied Keysborough defence and see the Magpies have a confidence-booster as they enters the finals.
Beaconsfield v Pakenham
THE Highway Cup is on the line for the second time this season in this game, but there is little chance that retiring Beaconsfield president Terry Lock and coach Robbie Taylor will get an unexpected retirement gift from Pakenham.
The Lions are on a course towards a grand-final spot, while the Eagles will be settling down to a few quiet ales and a serious contemplation of why and where their 2009 season went wrong over summer.
Lions coach Michael Holland was playing the party line, but said there would be no leeway given to their neighbours.
“They’ve had an up-and-down year and I think they’re definitely better than the ladder suggests. Going down there it’s a matter of us getting things right leading into finals and we’ll be going in full steam, don’t worry,” he warned.
That will be good enough to produce another solid win for the visitors.
Tooradin v ROC
TOORADIN will go in as favourites to defeat ROC at the Western Port Oval this Saturday but, in keeping with a wonderfully competitive season that will mean little when the two sides take the field.
A win will see the Seagulls finish sixth and send exiting coach Cristian O’Brien off with the satisfaction that he has set the side up for imminent success.
However, it will not be all beer and skittles for the home side because ROC is still playing to avoid the wooden spoon and that will only be certain if they win.
The key to this game will be the midfield battle and it will be worth watching just to see Paul Phillips, Greg and Ben Tivendale and Craig Eagleton take on Steve Arvanitis, Beau Miller, Michael Hobbs and Chad Liddell.
It’s the Seagulls to finish the year with a close win.