By Brad Kingsbury
THIS is the game that ROC and Beaconsfield supporters have had circled on their calendars since the Casey Cardinia League draw was released last year.
The defection of a number of Eagles to Starling Road after Kris Fletcher and Richard Brown were appointed to coach the young ROC side has grated on quite a few at Beaconsfield and they will be looking for some payback joy this Saturday.
The only problem with that is their team is currently playing ordinary football at best.
The Eagles will be without key forward Lachlan Oakley and have to travel and win away from their familiar surrounds, a task that coach Robbie Taylor knows will be tough.
“Even when we were a good side a few years ago, it was always hard down there, so it will be a good test for us,” he said. “There will be a bit of feeling in the game, but we have to try to be disciplined because that’s an area we failed in on the weekend.”
His opposite number, and former Eagle team-mate Kris Fletcher, has his own concerns with the Kangaroos displaying massive inconsistency from game to game at present.
Former Beaconsfield duo Kym Jones and Ash Comer will be keen to impress against their old club, but the result will not be reliant on emotion, rather on consistency of performance across four quarters.
Fletcher has focussed on trying to improve his side in that area this season and, despite the Eagles looking to have the edge in class across the field, an upset victory to the Kangaroos would not be a massive surprise.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Berwick v Pakenham
BERWICK has the chance to drive another nail of doubt into the raw wounds of Pakenham at the Edwin Flack Reserve this weekend.
The Lions must quickly address the deficiencies laid bare by Doveton last week and reproduce the type of accountable football that has made them the envy of most teams in the competition for a long period.
Star midfielder Dan O’Loughlin will return for the Lions, but coach Michael Holland is in no doubt about the challenge his side faces.
“Berwick is a side on the improve and, down there, it’s never easy to beat them,” he said.
“It’s a good test of our character after a loss like we have had.”
The Wickers are coming off a confidence-boosting win, but are yet to beat a side above it on the ladder so must be at their absolute best to have a chance.
While the Lions form at Berwick has been patchy, the sting of last weekend’s loss will provide the drive for them to outrun the emerging Wickers in what should be an entertaining game.
NARRE WARREN V
DEVON MEADOWS
THE Magpies are flying again, but with young sides every week is a challenge. That will be the case again when they host Devon Meadows who will be fresh off a double bye.
The experience of players like Steven Kidd and Glenn Hamilton, combined with the brilliance of Daniel Borninkhof and Nathan Brewster, is standing the Magpies in good stead at present.
Devon Meadows must be ready for a fierce and fast contest.
While the rest sounds nice, it is often a great detriment to the players who need to play a competitive game on a weekly basis to maintain their match-fitness – both physical and mental.
That will be the difference in this one with the Magpies tipped to get home in a tough encounter.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Hampton Park v
Cranbourne
ON paper this game looks easy to tip despite the fact that the Redbacks broke their win drought last weekend.
Cranbourne appears to be far better prepared and focussed to continue its impressive form, however coach Doug Koop is far from over confident.
“This will be a danger game. They’re coming off a win and play their home ground very well and sides are turning up to beat us now, so we have to be on our game,” he said.
While Koop is playing the game, he is right about Hampton Park’s Booth Reserve being a potential graveyard for good sides over a long period.
The Redbacks do not look to have the personnel to stop Cranbourne’s attack, led by Marc Holt, Brad Coller, Troy Tharle-Adams and Matt Fletcher, but any lack of commitment from the visitors will see the result a lot closer than many would predict.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Doveton v Keysborough
DOVETON is at home to Keysborough – undefeated top side versus winless bottom side – how do you talk this one up?
Well, if we cast our minds back to September 2008, this game would have been one worth driving to a finals venue to see.
Unfortunately for the Burra it is June 2009 and only absolute diehard Keysborough supporters will believe that their side has a chance.
Maybe the Doves will still be at their 50-year celebration and forget to turn up…
