Doveton wing attack Nicole Sherridan clears the netball ahead of Magpie centre Simone Osbourne.By Mark Gullick
Hampton Park vDevon Meadows
IT shapes as a massive week for Hampton Park, who can firmly entrench itself in the five, should results go their way.
The Redbacks could hold a two-win margin over Doveton if it can overcome the embattled Devon Meadows and Cranbourne beats Doveton.
Percentage looms as another prominent figure in shaping the final five, so a big win is crucial for Hampton Park.
Redbacks coach Clint Evans is predicting a tough clash.
“It’s another big game; they probably should have beaten us in round one at Devon Meadows,” Evans said.
“I had a look at the score and Beacy won pretty well against them, so they’ll be fired up. They’ve got three or four players who we’ll have to watch pretty closely. We’ve just got to try and keep winning and winning, and go into the bye and work out the last four games and where we’re at.”
Hampton Park is missing a plethora of quality players, but should be a chance to regain some of the missing core.
Devon Meadows continues to struggle.
However, if players such as Adam Jago, Adam Brander, Steve McInnes, Jess Dehey and Daniel Velardo stand up, it might challenge Hampton Park.
TOORADIN-DALMORE vKEYSBOROUGH
TOORADIN-Dalmore hosts Keysborough in an important clash for both teams.
With each team anchored on one win – the Seagulls also have a draw – the result of this match may determine who claims the wooden spoon.
Tooradin-Dalmore takes the home ground advantage into the clash and will hopefully regain several players, including Rory Gilliatte.
Keysborough’s consistent core of Tyson King, Michael Downie, Will Gayfer, Ryan Goodes and Glen Hawthorne have played their hearts out this year and will again figure prominently.
Both teams have produced great football, but not consistently, and the team that is able to perform at its best for the longest period will take the points in this hotly contested clash.
ROC v PAKENHAM
Rythdale Officer Cardinia’s tough run persists with another difficult fixture as the Kangaroos are hosting the in-form Pakenham.
ROC coach Greg Tivendale is attempting to feed as many games into his young core as possible and the progress of Matthew Clarke, Brad Thompson, Matthew Rogers and James Canty is impressive.
The Kangaroos love to run, but in Pakenham they will come up against another team which likes to carry the ball quickly.
Lions coach Michael Holland is wary of his opposition.
“We only got away from them in round one,” he said.
“I know it was early days, but we only got away in the last quarter. They’re going to be a different kettle of fish down there. I thought we got beaten in the contested footy (against Tooradin-Dalmore) and it’s a critical part of the game, so we’ll address that this week.”
DOVETON v CRANBOURNE
CRANBOURNE will be strengthened by Justin Berry and possibly strapping utility Laurence Angwin (hamstring) for its clash with Doveton at Robinson Reserve.
“It will be a big game,” Eagles coach Doug Koop said.
“I haven’t had a real good look at them, but someone said that if they lose, they will be two games out of the five, so we’re expecting a massive game from them. On their home ground, they play really well; they got over Pakenham there. We’re just going to have to play good footy to get over the top of them.”
After a bright performance at Berwick, Doveton let itself down with a poor showing against Narre Warren.
Coach Mark Ladgrove knows how important this clash is, as his team will fall two-wins out of fifth place should it lose.
“It’s a tough one, then we follow it up with Pakenham,” Ladgrove said.
“Questions will be asked and all we can do is stick together and get on with it.”
BERWICK v NARRE WARREN
NARRE Warren claimed Berwick’s second-place on the ladder with a big win over Doveton.
The Magpies are on the road for successive weeks and will take strong form into its contest at Berwick.
Without several key components, Narre Warren has reconfigured its forward half and it’s working.
Aaron McIver, Michael Collins and Ben Wragg rotate through the midfield and forward line, which is yielding results on the scoreboard.
Berwick is fresh off the bye which, according to coach Dean Rice, was very timely.
Rice knows his team faces a massive month.
“The next three weeks are huge for us,” Rice said.
“We play Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Pakenham. They’re probably the three sides, with Cranbourne at the top, to beat this year.”
In the opening round, Berwick shocked Narre Warren by four goals after producing a brilliant team effort.
This match-of-the-round will be an exciting contest. ROUND12 TIPS:
Hampton Park vDevon Meadows
Tooradin-Dalmore vKeysborough
ROCv Pakenham
Dovetonv Cranbourne
Berwickv Narre Warren
