Casey Cardinia League preview – round 18

By Brad Kingsbury
BERWICK has had an interesting year with every expert having an opinion of the club’s policy of trying to lift itself up the ladder with an aggressive recruiting campaign.
Ronnie Burns has had a tough initiation into the coaching fraternity with his side losing several close games early in the year that ended up costing a finals’ berth.
This Saturday’s final homeandaway fixture gives Burns and his team a chance to finish on a high note and possibly end the finals hopes of Keysborough at the Edwin Flack Reserve.
The Wickers have the players to stretch Keysborough, but whether they can concentrate well enough to do that for four quarters is the question.
Keysborough had to win last week and it did, again with only 19 men due to playerpoints restrictions.
If Berwick can exploit the Burra’s lack of ability to rotate players with continued run, then there is a chance of an upset but on form, Keysborough looks too strong in attack and should hold sway.
Hampton Park is at home to ROC in the other game of interest as far as the top five is concerned.
Two things are certain in this one. Firstly both sides will be going hell for leather because ROC want a shot at the finals and Hampton Park will not be keen to enter the first week of finals on the back of two losses.
The second certainty is that ROC followers will have an ear to the radio to check the progress of Keysborough against Berwick.
That maybe so, but by about halfway through the third term I’m tipping the Kangaroo faithful will be able to save their batteries because the Redbacks will have the game safely in their keeping.
One certainty this weekend is that the clash between Doveton and Cranbourne will be a spirited affair.
These games always are and Doveton coach Steve Henwood acknowledged that.
“People will always turn up to watch this game and there’s always a bit of excitement around Cranbourne games. It’s another challenge,” he said.
There is obviously a fair gap between the two teams both on the ladder and in experience and that alone will see the Doves enter the game as raging hot favourites.
However, the result is meaningless as far as the ladder is concerned and if the Doves decide to rest up before the finals it could be closer than many think.
Even so the home side will be too strong.
Narre Warren has its last prefinals hitout against Beaconsfield before attempting to snare a longawaited and hardearned premiership pennant.
The interest in this game will centre around how many of the Magpies’ ‘proppy’ players take the field in an attempt to get some game time before the business end of the year.
The young Eagles have progressed nicely and will be competitive but sheer weight of class will see the Magpies get home and complete a great home and away season in second place.
Tooradin will defeat Devon Meadows and that is certain.
The day will be Dan O’Loughlin’s last as coach of the Seagulls and there is nothing surer than the lads from the Western Port oval will give their all to send their popular and hugely respected coach out on a high note.
The Panthers will try hard but the end of a long season is in sight and they will be thankful to hear the final siren.
The same can be said for Dingley and the best suggestion coach David Barnes can make to his troops pregame is probably to not look at the scoreboard for the day.
Pakenham will have little sympathy for its undermanned and underskilled opponent so the Dingo pups should just enjoy the fact that they get to finish their involvement with the MPNFL on one of the best decks in the league and look forward to a convivial after the game.