By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
PREVIEW – ROUND 9 WEST DIVISION
CORA LYNN v KOOWEERUP
ALL eyes will turn to Cora Lynn this Saturday for the second blockbuster of the season between the Cobras and the Demons.
Travis Marsham’s men got the better of Matt Shorey’s by 32 points in an action-packed Round 2 encounter and the Cora Lynn coach openly admits that his side has set itself for another big one this week.
While Kooweerup will be coming off the bye for this week’s game, some key Cobras returned to the fold in Round 8.
Both sides will come out breathing fire on Saturday afternoon but a carry-over of the Cobras’ form from an impressive all-around display against Bunyip should see them over the line in a thriller. The Demons will be out for redemption after their last-up loss to Catani so expect this one to go right down to the wire. Cora Lynn by five points.
GARFIELD v LANG LANG
Both the Stars and the Tigers showed plenty in Round 8, with Lang Lang rebounding superbly from the drubbing the side suffered at the hands of the Goon.
The Stars played Scott Goldsworthy’s men on Saturday and pushed them all the way – at one stage hitting the lead in the fourth quarter before eventually being over-run. Garfield has plenty of talent across all lines and welcomed back some big name players on Saturday, while Sean Dwyer and Stu Casey are set to return this week for the Tigers.
The Stars won the first contest between the two sides this season in early April and they did it on foreign soil. The chance of rain on Saturday will play into the Tigers’ hands, but Garfield should get the job done at home on what will still be a fast deck. This should be another tight one, with Garfield scraping home by 11 points.
CATANI v BUNYIP
The final clash of the round could yet prove to be the tightest of the bunch. The Dogs and the Blues both struggled badly in the second halves of each of their games on Saturday and were subsequently soundly beaten.
Bunyip is currently two games clear of Catani on the ladder but the Dogs’ percentage is only six points better. With the tightness of the competition out West, it may only take a two-week turnaround in form for the Blues to climb out of the cellar.
It goes without saying that both these sides will come out firing on Saturday – each will see the game as a chance to turn over a new leaf in their season.
Bunyip should just have a little too much class and win by 20 points.
ROUND 9 TIPS
CORA LYNN v Kooweerup
GARFIELD v Lang Lang
Catani v BUNYIP
Nar Nar Goon – bye
