HAMPTON Park will go into this weekend’s match against Devon Meadows full of confidence, despite last weekend’s loss to Beaconsfield.
The Redbacks are playing an accountable style of football and are responding well to Josh Taylor’s coaching philosophy that has allowed players like Brady White, Luke Nunan, Dean Jamieson and Matt Dixon to demonstrate their flair and ability.
That has seen a marked improvement in results over recent weeks and another victory is close.
Devon Meadows coach Steve O’Brien must be scratching his head after his side’s insipid performance against ROC last weekend.
Injuries to Aaron Henneman and Scott Young are a further worry at the Glover Reserve, but it is the Panthers mental frailty that is the issue.
Until the switch is flicked in the Panthers’ heads, there is no danger of tipsters jumping on their bandwagon at present.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Doveton v Beaconsfield
DOVETON has one more team to beat and it will have made its way past every rival in the 2009 Casey Cardinia League without losing a match.
That side is Beaconsfield which, at best, has been hot and cold this season.
Doveton assistant coach Clint Wilson’s job is to keep his players up and running. “It’s another challenge and when a side has five or six players of the calibre of Kelf, Taylor and Williams in the side, they can’t be taken lightly at all,” he said.
The Eagles will welcome back Ash Salter and Matt Kenny for the game, but still be without power forward Lachlan Oakley and that will be a big negative. Andrew Williams, as good as he is, is carrying the bulk of the Beaconsfield attack by himself at present and that will not be enough to worry the rampant Doves this weekend.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Tooradin v Keysborough
THIS will be an amazing contest if last weekend’s results are a true indication of form.
Keysborough has possibly its best chance of winning a game against a mentally shattered opponent but, to date, that has mattered little and the boys from the Burra have consistently found a way to lose in 2009.
With finals well out of the equation, coach Greg Siwes is throwing his players all over the place, while his opposition number Cristian O’Brien will just be hoping last weekend’s drubbing can be permanently erased from the history books.
Tooradin should regain key big man Steve Arvanitis and that will provide a boost in both height and leadership.
On paper the Burra still look to be a good-quality side, but that has certainly not translated to the paddock this year and the Seagulls are tipped to improve by 25 goals on last weekend and record win number-three for 2009.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:ROC v Narre Warren
ROC is rolling and that is just what Narre Warren coach Matt Shiners will not want to read.
One game ago the Magpies almost succumbed to Devon Meadows and then ROC comes out and poleaxes the Panthers.
That sets up another good contest and the Kangaroos will be close to full strength, except for Kris Fletcher according to co-coach Richard Brown.
“We had four players out last weekend and we will get a couple back, but the key will be to play out the whole four quarters again, it’s that simple,” he said.
That will, of course, be the key to both sides’ fortunes and it is one area that the Magpies have been very good in this year.
This promises to be a great game again with Narre Warren’s edge in pace being the difference in the end.
