EDFL round 16 preview

AFTER three successive victories Longwarry’s recently improved form will be put to the ultimate test this week when it travels to Nyora to meet the allconquering Saints.
The roundfour encounter between the sides was a ripper, the Saints coming from behind to prevail by six points, and another close encounter is expected. The recent addition of Michael Bourke to support Scott McQualter in the ruck has provided better balance and a bevy of small men including Matt Campbell, Luke Serong, Mark Light and Danny Wells are crumbing at their feet. With a settled defence, Longwarry is now a hard nut to crack.
Perhaps the best attribute Longwarry has is its ability to go hard at the ball and apply pressure on the ball carrier and, if it can keep this up for the entire match, it may well pull off an upset. Nyora has suffered a bad blow, its captain Dean Alger sustaining a hairline fracture of his eye socket in the closing part of last week’s match and is likely to be sidelined for a few weeks. It will be interesting to see how the Saints rejig their forward line because Alger and boom recruit Nathan Osler have worked well in tandem this season. At home and with confidence skyhigh, Nyora should win, but not without a torrid tussle.
Kooweerup faces a danger game against NilmaDarnum. It’s hard to determine which Nilma will turn up but the Bombers never flinch from the physical stuff and will make the Demons earn every kick. The Demons will be missing the injured Brett Stanley (broken hand, three weeks) and captaincoach Peter Bastinac (hamstring) and Matt Cameron is unavailable. Kooweerup was in scintillating form last week and with a classy midfield and multiple forward options it should win comfortably.
NeerimNeerim South will host Bunyip, buoyed by its 78point victory over Lang Lang, which should ensure that it does not win the wooden spoon. Now that captain Paul Whelan and Justin Cant are fit again, the Cats have a lot of midfield grunt and can be expected to take the game right up to the Bulldogs. If Bunyip loses it can kiss its finals hopes goodbye and this motivation should be enough to see it home.
Seething over its narrow loss last week, Buln Buln is likely to take out its vengeance on Poowong this week. Poowong can be a plucky team to fend off when switched on, as Ellinbank found last week. Buln Buln still have a few key players including Barry Zeldenryk (unavailable) and Brent Lewein (shoulder) sidelined. With percentage of vital importance, Brett Eastwell’s charges are likely to show no mercy and should chalk up a handsome victory.
Ellinbank will take a short trip up the road to meet Warragul Industrials. This is a crunch game both clubs and a loss would make either side vulnerable and likely to miss the finals. Ellinbank appeared to be in cruise mode last week against Poowong, just doing enough when required to get over the line. It will need to be switched on for 100 minutes otherwise it will drop this game, because, if nothing else the Dusties have big motors. Industrials captaincoach Paul Rust returned to the fray two weeks ago and, while resting his dodgy ankle in the forward pocket, has become a viable forward option with eight goals over the past two matches. Ellinbank will bolster its lineup with the possible return of captain Jason Hill, defender Jake Berry and rover Brett Kahan and their presence should be enough to get the Bankers across the line, but only just.
Catani showed glimpses of its best last week, which will send a shiver up the spine of its opponents this week Nar Nar Goon, which will travel to Catani for the first time. The reigning premier unleashed a barnstorming third term to rock Bunyip with 12 goals and, if the Blues play anywhere near that level Nar Nar Goon could be in for a long afternoon. On a positive note the Goon has blooded many youngsters this season that will be better for the experience. Clint Sheedy has been a revelation up forward and the bulky sharpshooter will need to be watched closely. From all reports Catani’s gun recruit Hayden Smart is carrying a nagging Achilles tendon that has curtailed his output in recent weeks and Brett Mounsey is far from fully fit. Whether or not Smart or Mounsey play, Catani should win comfortably.
After playing a month of good football, Cora Lynn put in a shocker last week and its opponent this week Lang Lang was equally bad. Lang Lang has a dozen of its best 21 sidelined so I’ll tip Cora Lynn to win an arm wrestle and chalk up its third victory.