Doveton big man Ryan Brown will be a key player in his side’s quest to maintain its winning form over Narre Warren this weekend. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Brad Kingsbury
THE Casey Cardinia League continues to throw up super matchups and this weekend’s clash between Narre Warren and Doveton is no exception.
The Doves have had an injuryplagued and somewhat rocky season, but despite that have underlined their sheer class by slipping quietly up to second spot.
The previously invinciblelooking Magpies fell to their second consecutive loss last Saturday and will be keen to right the ship and reclaim at least one position on the table.
Added to that is the spice of it being another meeting between last year’s grand finalists (the first won by Doveton) and a chance for the Magpies to finally dispel the theory that they are intimidated by the Doves.
That will be hard to do on last weekend’s form and given that Brett Evans, Ryan Stanes and Michael Collins remain under injury clouds, while key defender Steven Kidd is overseas.
Coach Aussie Jones should make a welcome return to the Narre Warren side, but Doveton is almost back at full strength and that, plus the fact that the Doves hold a significant mental edge over the Magpies regardless of venue, is enough for me. Doveton to win.
Pakenham’s clash with Berwick will also be a corker. The Wickers have a full list and are on song at last. They play a most exciting brand of bigground football, so the Toomuc Reserve should pose few problems.
Pakenham has done everything right and is showing the benefit of the fact that its main decisionmakers in Michael Holland, Joe Lenders and Lincoln Withers know each other so well.
That said, Holland is taking no chances and knows this week will be a challenge.
“All we can do is keep beating what’s put in front of us and Berwick will be a huge test for us this week,” he said. “When we beat Berwick in round two, I said they were going places this year and they will test a lot of side’s on the way home now.”
The Lions have been up for a long time and are due to lose one. Whether that will happen this Saturday or not is he question but, given I am under strict instructions to stay off the Lions bandwagon, I will tip an upset and go for the Wickers.
And as for bandwagons, my timing as far as Hampton Park is concerned has been terrible.
Tooradin is at home to the Redbacks this Saturday and lining the two up is a battle.
The Seagulls comprehensively accounted for Hampton Park in round one and will have gained great confidence from last weekend’s win.
The Redbacks are coming off a loss, but will be keen to right the ledger after the sides’ first meeting.
If Hampton Park is entertaining thoughts of finals, a win this weekend is vital and that should see the spiders get over the line in a close one.
The signs for Beaconsfield are good and this weekend’s game against Keysborough at the Perc Allison Reserve is another chance for the young Eagles to take a step towards eventual greatness.
The stress of playing and losing to Doveton last week will have helped steel Beaconsfield for a big game and if the Eagles can reproduce that form, a win is on the cards.
Beating the Burra will not be an easy task, especially if it is an inandunder type of game, however Beaconsfield has one of, if not the best midfields in the business and do not often lose at home.
Devon Meadows and Cranbourne will meet at Glover Reserve in the second of their traditional games, but the form says that the visitors should win with something to spare.
After the initial, pridedriven onslaught, Cranbourne’s class edge should take control and that will be the end of the contest.
Dingley’s only saving grace against ROC is that the young Dingo pups can leave their cars at home meaning they can start drowning their sorrows a bit earlier. In fact they could probably knock the top off one at halftime because, in the Kangaroos’ current mood, the game will be well over by then.
