By Ken Moore
THE stakes couldn’t be any higher than when third-placed Catani hosts second-placed Cora Lynn in this week’s match of the day on Saturday.
The contest will be the equivalent of a final and could make or break the season for either side.
The Blues trail the Cobras by four points and a small percentage on the ladder so must win to keep the door open for a top-two double-chance position.
Plucky Blues defender Luke McFarlane (overseas) will miss and is likely to be replaced by running half-back Chris Teniseli, who was unavailable last week.
Catani’s recent form has been superb and they are going to be mighty hard to conquer.
Imposing ruckman Phil Smith has doubled as a key forward in recent weeks and his strong bodywork and hands have wreaked havoc on opposition defences over the past month.
With another powerful forward Owen Fitzpatrick also hovering around the forward line and elusive forwards Luke James and Leigh Jose at their feet, Catani is a difficult side to match up on.
In recent weeks Catani has played the slightly better team football and with many Cobras unfamiliar with the Catani ground, I’ll tip the Blues to prevail by about 15 points.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Neerim Neerim South v Longwarry
AFTER both Neerim Neerim South and Longwarry produced shock upset victories last week, this week’s meeting between the two sides now takes on heightened interest.
Longwarry must win to keep their push for a top-six ladder spot going and will be buoyed by last week’s spirited effort against the Industrials.
Neerim will be out to bring down another big scalp after knocking over Bunyip away from home last week.
It has been a long time coming, but last week the Crows showed the type of fast play-on-at-all-costs style football that has stood it in good stead in recent years.
If Longwarry play with the same instinct it should win, but Neerim is no pushover and it will be made to fight all the way.
In Chris Urie, Cam Hinkley, Jack Halligan and Ryan Muir the Cats have some of the most consistent footballers in the league that will ensure it will never be too far away.
The motivation to stay in finals’ contention will drive Longwarry to victory – likely by less than three goals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Nilma-Darnum v Bunyip
Coming off two successive defeats Bunyip’s season has turned a little sour and now its spot in the top six is under threat.
The Bombers have crushed all in its path so far and should it bulldoze the Bulldogs this week and Longwarry beat Neerim by a big margin, Bunyip might find itself in seventh position by late Saturday afternoon.
Nilma just keep getting better.
Last week the Bombers unveiled another Sale star, Phil Harris, and he displayed his mercurial skills and suggested he will also be more than a handful to negate with a bit more fitness under his belt.
Bunyip will try hard to regroup after last week’s slow start and late fadeout, but will not have the maturity, class or experience to match it with the Bombers for all four quarters.
Bunyip will do well if it can keep the end margin to less than 40 points.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Nar Nar Goon v Nyora
NAR Nar Goon made amends for its round-10 loss against Catani with a convincing win over Lang Lang last week, but will still have its doubters until it can beat a top side.
Nyora opened its winning account and did it in style with a surprisingly easy 70-point victory over Ellinbank last week that will give it some much-needed confidence.
The return of utility Clinton Wise and key defender Andrew Collis has been a boon for the Saints in recent weeks, but it does not possess the talent or class to match it for any great length of time against Nar Nar Goon.
The Goon, if focussed, should win by more than 60 points.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Kooweerup v Lang Lang
KOOWEERUP will be out to win some respect when it meets neighbour Lang Lang.
The Demons have gone off the boil over the past month and have not looked like a winner.
Their best hope of victory sits with the fact that the Tigers may enter the game deflated after their loss to Nar Nar Goon last week.
That loss brought an end to any slim hopes they entertained of a finals’ berth and hence may enter the game without the same determination.
However, being a local derby it will not want to drop a game to its swampland rival and with the firepower of Kurt Batt and Luke Muirhead, who have been in good nick in recent weeks, the Tigers should win comfortably.
But expect the Demons to have a real crack in the opening half.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Warragul Industrials v Buln Buln
ON current form Warragul Industrials should have a percentage-boosting victory over Buln Buln.
The Lyrebirds have done little to suggest they can match it with the middle-ranking teams, let alone Warragul that occupies fourth spot on the ladder.
After last week’s loss to Longwarry, a top-two finish is now highly unlikely for the Industrials and may be tempted to tinker with the team and perhaps introduce some newcomers with an eye to the future. Aside from Craig Kennedy, Che Jenkins and Mitch Nobelius, the Lyrebirds’ talent pool falls away quickly.
The Dusties should have opened up a gap of at least 50 points by the time the final siren sounds.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Ellinbank v Poowong
Both teams will be annoyed by their sub-standard efforts in round 11 when flogged by their respective opponents Nyora and Nilma.
The margin of their losses was more surprising than their defeat, because prior to last week both appeared to be improving and starting to be competitive.
The Bankers will be desperate to win their first match for the season and against the Magpies, a team that has struggled more often than not, will fancy its chances.
Ellinbank has an over reliance on too few. Poowong has more depth and should chalk up a comfortable win if it plays to the best of its ability.
