By Ken Moore
IF GARFIELD rolls Warragul Industrials at Tarwin Street on Saturday, it will have beaten the five teams nearest to it on the ladder – and all that inside the first 12 rounds, an impressive statistic.
And another win will also further cement its flag favouritism.
Only a brave person would bet against the Stars, whose form is impeccable, evidenced by Saturday’s thrashing of Lang Lang.
The undefeated Stars hunt in packs, run in numbers and have played as a united team this season.
The Industrials have snuck up to second on the ladder but still have their naysayers. After losses in big games to Cora Lynn and Nar Nar Goon and some mixed performances – such as last week when made to fight tooth and nail against lowly Kooweerup – it is hard make a strong argument for them.
Occasionally, though, Warragul plays some spell-binding football and has shown the ability to kick goals in a hurry.
In Shane Brewster and Ben Hobgen it has two of the three Ellinbank players that were selected in the Victorian District Country Football team to play the Amateurs on 9 July and both have the ability to wreak havoc.
Recruits ruckman Stephen Pitt and runners Ben Campbell, Daniel Johnson, Ayden Mills and Chris Potalej have proved to be handy and have the ability to give plenty of cheek.
Nonetheless, with Garfield to field close to its best line-up it should register its 12th consecutive victory.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Nar Nar Goon v Neerim Neerim South
The Goon’s home-ground clash against the Cats is a tantalising contest. The Goon must win, otherwise it may find itself in a spot of bother, two games in arrears of sixth spot. It has a big job ahead of it because it is nursing half a dozen injured players.
Neerim graduated into a genuine double chance prospect after it dismantled Cora Lynn last week and that was despite the fact it missed more than 900 games of senior experience with Matt Cumming, Danny Sheehan and Jack Halligan all missing.
Tough ruckman Matt Young got through his first full game for the season last week, which is more good news for the visitors.
The Goon is likely to bolster its team with the inclusion of Chris Jones and Paul Youle but Neerim is playing with confidence and will put a big dent in the Goon’s final chances.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Lang Lang v Bunyip
The Tigers will tangle with the Bulldogs. Both enter the game on the back of disappointing efforts. The Tigers were thrashed lock, stock and barrel by Garfield and the Bulldogs managed only a draw against the underperforming Catani. Lang Lang filmed last week’s debacle and will be poring over the recording this week in an effort to right the wrongs. The brains-trust will find it was devoid of midfield run.
To add to its woes, star midfield recruit Billy Hayes left the field with a hamstring injury last week in the second term and must be doubtful.
While Bunyip has put in a few stop-start efforts over the past month it still has a better midfield and should return home with the four match points to leap ahead of the Tigers on the ladder.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Longwarry v Kooweerup
The Crows now have a mountain to climb to get back into the top six. This week their season is on the line when they grapple with the Demons.
Kooweerup presented plenty of problems for Warragul Industrials last week and if it can reproduce a similar performance it may cause an upset.
Combative Crows coach Grant McDonald (shoulder) is likely to be sidelined for a month or two, if not the season, which is a big blow for Longwarry’s finals prospects.
But home-ground advantage coupled with more incentive to win should drive Longwarry to its first victory since its round seven defeat of Catani.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Catani v Poowong
Both the Blues and their opponents this week, the Magpies, can feel hard done by last week. Both led for three-and-a-half quarters against their far more highly fancied opponents, Nar Nar Goon and Bunyip, but didn’t snatch the four points. Catani showed it might be turning the corner last week but until it can produce its best on a weekly basis I’ll steer away from tipping it. In a toss of the coin job – the visitors to fall in by the skin of their teeth.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Cora Lynn v Nilma Darnum
The Cobras need to take stock after getting belted by Neerim Neerim South last week. Its opponents this week, the lowly Bombers, are likely to enter with heavy legs after playing on a bog track last week, which will make them even more vulnerable. Cora Lynn should win with a bit in reserve.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Buln Buln v Nyora
Nilma Darnum thrashed Nyora in round 10 and Buln Buln beat Nilma Darnum last week. That form line suggests the Lyrebirds should record their fourth victory against the Saints this week.
ROUND 12 TIPS:
BULN BULN v Nyora
Catani v POOWONG
CORA LYNN v Nilma Darnum
Lang Lang v BUNYIP
LONGWARRY v Kooweerup
Nar Nar Goon v NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
Warragul Industrials v GARFIELD
Bye: Ellinbank
