Garfield youngster Beau Runnalls is one of the Stars’ leading prospects and will be keen to fire against Warragul this Sunday.By Ken Moore
LOCAL interest will centre on Garfield’s clash with Warragul on Sunday at Drouin. After two consecutive wins at its temporary home ground in Drouin, Garfield is starting to warm to games there while its Beswick Street ground is under repair. The Stars were outclassed last week against Sale but have a history of learning a lot in defeat and this will see that the thirdplaced Warragul does not get all its own way.
The Stars will enter the game down on personnel without Andy Soumilas, Danny O’Brien, Matt Cunningham, Jake Hower, Dean McFarlane and Nick Rogers but the Gulls will also be below full strength without captaincoach Ash Green, Leigh Sheehan and Xavier Gargan. On a positive note, underrated defender Brendan Sheehan is tipped to return. Warragul found a solution to its forward woes last week when Ben Hughes stepped up to score four goals but the talented youngster, along with midfielders Joel Morgan and Ben Jostlear, are likely to return to Gippsland Power and this will take a large chunk out of Warragul’s midfield drive and forward potency. Garfield is not overtalented but it has introduced a lot of youngsters in recent weeks who look to have the persistence to make the grade. Both teams have struggled up forward this season but Warragul’s midfield, led by ruckman Matt Gray, Des Barr, Ryan Davey, Brad Nott and Matt Nankervis, should get their hands on the ball enough to get Warragul across the line by a narrow margin.
Traralgon put down a gritty challenge by Drouin last week but it looks to have its work cut out this week when it travels to Sale to play the league leader. The Maroons have suffered many injuries in recent weeks and can be expected to struggle. Sale just goes from strength to strength, is playing with super confidence and will be stronger with the return of gun recruit Jacob Schuback, who has reportedly recovered from a minor leg injury. For Traralgon, Cameron Ferguson, after being best on ground in the reserves with five goals, is likely to be called up, however his presence is unlikely to make any great impact on Sale, which has swept all before it this season.
Morwell will host traditional rival Moe. Both will be out to erase disappointing losses last round, more so Morwell, which will be keen to atone for its 123point loss to Maffra. Both teams have been far from convincing and it is hard to mount a persuasive argument for either. Moe appears to have a better structured forward lineup with Dean Caldow, Adam Kennedy and Jason Shields, while Morwell can take the points if it plays to the best of its ability. I’ll tip Moe because it appears to have more to lose.
Leongatha will entertain Maffra but the game shapes as a mismatch. The Eagles will enter the game raging oddson favourites with the Parrots stranded at the foot of the table.
Roundeight fixtures with likely winners in capitals: Garfield v WARRAGUL (on Sunday at Drouin), SALE v Traralgon, Morwell v MOE (Sunday), Leongatha v MAFFRA.
