Casey Cardinia League preview – round 15

By Brad Kingsbury
THIS time last season the headline was the exact opposite as Doveton sat undefeated on top of the Casey Cardinia League table saying ‘catch us if you can’.
Nobody did.
This weekend the Doves travel to Pakenham with the boot firmly on the other foot, as they try to devise a way to deflate the confidence oozing from the rampant 2006 flag favourites.
The Doves go in as underdogs and with injuries to key players including Justin Hill, Aaron McIver and Brad Downe, the task will be even harder, although coach Stephen Henwood is looking forward to the challenge.
“Bully (Clint Wilson) could be back so that will be a plus, but gee, they’re playing well and will be very hard to beat,” he said.
“Having said that, we have no fears about playing at Pakenham and we’ll put up a good showing, I’m sure.”
Lions mentor Michael Holland still has fresh memories of the Doves’ recent dominance and is not underestimating them.
“I can’t believe everyone was writing them off this year,” he said. “They’re still one of the best sides you’ll see and this will be a great challenge again.”
It certainly will be, but it is one that recent form tells us the Lions will overcome even with me on board!
Keysborough is at home to fifthplaced ROC and will be thinking winning thoughts, despite last weekend’s loss to Doveton.
Many at the Burra still believe they can make the final five and with the probable inclusion of star forwards Michael Davis and Warrick Hanks this Saturday, its attack will be formidable.
ROC, on the other hand, is at the crossroads of 2006 and many of the Kangaroo players have shown that they are simply not mentally tough enough to compete with the top sides.
That is a fact not lost on coach Hayden Stanton.
“We just have to win. If we lose this one, we’re gone. The group will be that deflated it will be almost impossible to come back. That’s it in a nutshell,” he said.
Well the Kangaroos had better prepare to start shelling nuts, because I’m tipping the Burra to upset their finals cart.
Tooradin is at home to Narre Warren and this game could go one of two ways, depending on the tactics of the Seagulls.
Either it will be a fastflowing, skilful game with both sides able to score freely and regularly, or it could develop into a dour struggle with one side trying to limit the damage inflicted by the other.
Whichever way it is played, Narre Warren will win with something to spare.
The young Beaconsfield team is playing good football at present and this Saturday’s clash with an even younger Cranbourne promises to be a good yardstick for both coaches on the progress of their charges.
Both teams have blooded many teenagers this season and both are heading in the right direction.
The Eagles are probably a year or two in advance and should triumph.
Devon Meadows is at home to Berwick and the outcome and interest in this match rests purely with the Wickers.
If they are switched on and fair dinkum, the game will be over at halftime and it will be party time for the Wicker forwards, if not then the Panthers just might pull off their third win for the season.
I’m tipping the former, but not with great confidence.
Beirut will look like a pristine paradise compared with the damage Hampton Park threatens to inflict on Dingley this weekend!
The Redbacks are in no mood for sympathy and with Kerem Baskaya, Mitch Whatman and a couple of handy backup forwards, named Shorey and Lancaster, the devastation could reach 200 points plus.