Eastern Mavericks Vs Forestville Eagles

WOMEN 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | ADELAIDE HILLS
OFFICIALS: L Sorensen & J Brown

Eastern (3-13) v Forestville (8-8)
The Mavericks have the chance to play the role of the spoiler when they host the Eagles.

The Mavericks’ final two games are against the Eagles and the Warriors, who are competing for the fifth and final playoff spot, along with West. Another win would also give them an opportunity to finish outside the bottom two.

The Eagles have the Rockets in Round 18, whom they have not beaten in seven attempts. Given they also have not defeated a side above them this season, a loss to the Mavericks would put them in a horrible position to make the five.

The Eagles have plenty of reason to feel confident about this fixture, given they held the Mavericks to just 43 points the last time they met.

 

MEN 8:15 PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | ADELAIDE HILLS
OFFICIALS: B Northcote & R Rochford

Eastern (3-13) v Forestville (9-7)

With their playoff hopes on the line, the Eagles will face the Mavericks at Adelaide Hills, which has been a very happy hunting ground for them in recent seasons.

The Mavericks have not beaten the Eagles at home since May 27, 2006. However, the Mavericks are on a two game winning streak for the first time since 2011, so this is a dangerous time for the Eagles to be playing them.

The Eagles had their five game winning streak ended by Norwood in overtime last week. A victory would have virtually sealed a finals spot for the Eagles, but now they still have a fight on their hands with Sturt for that golden fifth seed.

The Eagles ran out 20 point winners the last time they met the Mavericks, so it would take a substantial turnaround for the Mavericks to achieve their third consecutive triumph.

 

North Adelaide Rockets Vs South Adelaide Panthers

WOMEN 6:30PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | HILLCREST
OFFICIALS: A Just & N Frost

North (12-4) v South (12-4)

The Rockets can seal a top three finish and a double chance if they can beat the Panthers at Hillcrest.

Both teams have had great seasons to date by winning 12 games, but the loser of this one will be staring at a home Elimination Final against Forestville, Woodville or West. The winner will most likely make the trip to Pasadena to face Sturt in the Qualifying Final.

The Rockets have won their last two, while the Panthers have put three in a row together. The Panthers have been the stronger side in the second half of the season, losing only to Sturt, whereas the Rockets have lost to Woodville, Norwood and the Sabres since Round 9 ended.

Last time they met, the Rockets held on to win by nine points, so the Panthers will be looking for a double digit win to gain the tiebreaker.

 

MEN 8:15PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | HILLCREST
OFFICIALS: M Frost & M Harris:

North (3-13) v South (6-10)

The Rockets can give themselves a huge chance of avoiding the wooden spoon if they can beat the Panthers.

The Rockets have lost eight successive matches, after going down by two to Centrals in Round 16. They are tied with the Mavericks on three wins, but the Mavericks hold the tiebreaker.

The Panthers were beaten by the Mavericks last week, meaning they will definitely end this campaign below .500. The Panthers cannot finish any higher than seventh.

The Rockets had their best game of the season with a 24 point victory when they last met the Panthers, with this their final opportunity to be on the right side of a sweep.

 

Norwood Flames Vs Woodville Warriors

WOMEN 6:30PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | MARS
OFFICIALS: A Gillings & N Passey

The Warriors could not have encountered the Flames at a better time as they try to enter the box seat for the fifth and final playoff spot, in the Match of the Round.
 
The Warriors' come-from-behind win over Southern last week means they are level on wins with Forestville, who lost to the Flames by four points last week. Having lost the series split, the Warriors need to win one more game than Forestville in the final fortnight of the season. A Warrior loss, coupled with an Eagle win over Eastern, would end the Warriors' playoff chase.
 
The Flames have been the dominant side of the past four seasons, but are looking more beatable than ever during the last couple of months. They have lost twice at home since the end of the first half of the season, and only just got over the line last week.
 
The Flames comfortably beat the Warriors the last time they met, but if they fail to match the Warriors' will to win, it could be a massive night for the green gold.

 

MEN 8:15PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | MARS
OFFICIALS: A Filmer & N Ireland

Norwood (13-3) v Woodville (12-4)

If the Norwood Flames win their 12th straight game at the expense of the Warriors this weekend they will seal the minor premiership. If the Warriors can win by 15 points or more they will snatch the top spot and the week off during the first week of finals.

The Flames showed they are still the league’s form team by defeating high flying Forestville in Round 16. They have still not lost away from home since opening night.

The Warriors have won four in a row, after demolishing Southern last week. That victory guarantees them a top two finish for the second year running.

Despite having won fewer games, the Warriors have a substantially better percentage than the Flames. That means they must win by a minimum of 14 points to steal the series split, after the Flames won 90-76 at St Clair in Round 8.

 

Southern Tigers Vs West Adelaide Bearcats

WOMEN 6:30PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: B Harris & A Newman:

Southern (3-13) v West (7-9)

The Bearcats can pile pressure on to Forestville and Woodville and keep their finals hopes alive if they can get a win on the road against the Tigers.

The Bearcats are just a game outside the five, but need to win their final two games and have some luck with other results. Their second half capitulation against Sturt in Round 16 could prove to be a fatal blow.

The Tigers had one of their best matches in months last week, coming within four points of causing a major upset of Woodville. They are still sitting eighth.

The Bearcats won by 32 points the last time these teams met, holding the Tigers to just 39 points. The odds are heavily in their favour for keeping their season alive for another week.

 

MEN 8:15PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | MORPHETT VALE
OFFICIALS: I Domeika & M Pepicelli

Southern (6-10) v West (10-6)

The Bearcats can stay in the race for a double chance if they can account for the Tigers at Morphett Vale.

Prior to last week’s 95-80 win over Sturt, the Bearcats were in danger of missing the finals, but are now guaranteed postseason action. They are tied with the Lions on 10 wins, but the Lions hold the tiebreaker.

The Tigers were thumped by Woodville in Round 16, and now only have a miniscule chance of earning sixth spot, as they sit two games below the Sabres.

The Bearcats put on a shooting clinic by going 15-20 from downtown the last time they met the Tigers, so comfortably hold the bragging rights at the moment.

 

Central Districts Lions Vs Sturt Sabres

WOMEN 6:30PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: H Starkey & M McLoughlin

Centrals (0-16) v Sturt (13-3)

The Sabres have the opportunity to register a 10th consecutive victory when they make the long trip north to visit the Lions.

A win for the Sabres would make it a clean sweep of road wins, having won at all the other venues en route to an 8-0 away record. Their less impressive home form means they still have some work to do to guarantee a top two finish.

The Lions scored just 25 points last week, in what was a league low score for this season.

The Sabres beat the Lions 87-43 in Round 8. A repeat of that performance will give them another chance to empty their bench.

 

MEN 8:15PM | SATURDAY 26 JULY | STARPLEX
OFFICIALS: N Wieland & J Grigoul

Centrals (10-6) v Sturt (8-8)

In the Match of the Round, the Lions have the chance to clinch a finals spot and end the Sabres’ playoff chase.

A win for the Lions would put them in the box seat for a double chance, but a small loss would not be a horrendous result. The Lions hold the split in this series, having defeated the Sabres 70-65 in Round 8, so a loss of four points or fewer would guarantee them a second straight postseason run.

The Sabres are one game behind Forestville. They hold the split in that series, but they require the Eagles to lose at least one more match, bearing in mind they play the two bottom teams. With the Lions up against a capable South side at Marion next week, a win of six points or more would be massive for the Sabres.

A Lion win would go against history. The Lions have not beaten the Sabres at Starplex in the last decade...