By Brad Kingsbury
BERWICK is at home against ROC this weekend in a mustwin game for both clubs.
Both are coming off disappointing losses but the Kangaroos’ was far more comprehensive and potentially mentally damaging.
The Wickers are close to putting their game together and at Edwin Flack Reserve will be very hard to toss.
Ronnie Burns has built his game plan around run and playing overlap football in an effort to get the ball quickly to his gun forwards George Gorozidis and Ryan Donaldson, who should return from injury this weekend.
ROC coach Hayden Stanton will rely on his bigbodied players to win the contested ball in the clinches but that was where they fell down against Hampton Park and, because of the selfdoubt created by that, the Wickers are favoured to gain win number five.
Beaconsfield travels to Pakenham and will be aiming to give the secondplaced Lions a hard way.
These two have a long history of rivalry and although Haydn Robins is sticking to his policy of blooding youngsters, the Eagles always believe they are a show against Pakenham and Lions coach Michael Holland knows it.
“Beaconsfield is always a massive test for us,” he said. “I can’t see why they wouldn’t be among the best sides (in the competition). They’ve got top players like Kelf, Taylor and Mislicki and they’re always tough to beat.”
That said, the Lions look to have the answers across the field with Lincoln Withers back to his best and Holland also in great form.
Pakenham should prevail.
Narre Warren will likely be at full strength at Fox Road this weekend and that spells danger for visitors Keysborough.
The Burra have progressed nicely this year after an influx of recruits, but they are yet to prove that they are up to the league’s best.
The Magpies carry that tag at present. Coach Aussie Jones has some of the competition’s best at his disposal with the Clark brothers, Michael Collins and Brett Evans leading the way.
These two sides have a history of intense rivalry, to put it mildly, and are probably the two most physical teams in the league. That will make it a game worth watching but class says the Magpies will win.
Is Hampton Park back on track or was its lastround thumping of ROC a fluke?
Cranbourne will find out the answer to that question firsthand at the Booth Reserve this Saturday.
The Redbacks will perform in front of a big home crowd with the game a celebration of favourite son Mick O’Brien’s 300th appearance in the black and red strip. That alone should ensure a good effort but there is no doubt that the Cranbourne youngsters will give a good account of themselves.
Coach Brett McMaster has his team in a development phase but it always rises for its traditional rivals and, although the Redbacks will win, this could be a lot closer than many think.
Devon Meadows is at home to an injury hit Doveton.
The Panthers continue to play their youngsters and while it is giving them plenty of experience, the quality of opposition teams has been too great to date.
The Doves will likely be without Ryan Brown and Aaron McIver but both their reserves and under 18s are in good form and there is a good chance that classy halfback Daryl Thomas will return after a knee injury.
That should be enough to see the Doves take the points with some comfort.
Tooradin takes on Dingley at Westernport Oval in what will be a percentagebooster.
The Dingoes will try hard as they have all season and their three or four topline players will again lead the way, but against a side led by Dan O’Loughlin, Tom Hallinan, Scott Weekley and Ben Scanlon, there will be little to do except admire the class of opposition.
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