Trentham v Talbot
After a very promising start to the season the Talbot Hawks have failed to live up to their capable form since with three losses in a row and now face a danger game at Trentham on Saturday.
The Saints have two wins and a draw so far this season, but failed against the resurgent Royal Park under lights on Saturday evening. Losing Clayton Scoble to injury midway through the Maldon game a fortnight ago has seriously depleted the on-ball stocks for the Saints, who rely on their leader to create opportunities for their running players with his creative disposal.
A number of promising junior players are performing well for Trentham such as Scott Witmitz and James Wicker, and Mark Strickland has provided a focal point for the Saints, and is a potential match winner if given enough opportunities.
Talbot was competitive with Carisbrook until the half time break last week, but could not sustain the challenge from this point in the game, when the Redbacks were dominant in the second half of the game.
If Talbot is to win at Trentham they will need to apply the determination that saw them run rampant against Maldon in the season opener and will also be hopeful that coach Ricky Andrews is available after missing the game last round.
This is a game that could go either way but the home ground may sway the ledger in favour of Trentham in a very tight result.
Trentham
B: Luke Adams, Josh Murphy, Simon Boxall
HB: Scott Witmitz, Justin Hoffman, Jamie Cutler
C: Hayden Sundblom, Christopher Whelan, Elliot Drew
HF: Matthew Traynor, Mark Strickland, Matthew Sundblom
F: Lewis Bruton, Taylor Drew, John Cowell
R: James Wicker, Luke Whitehouse, Kasey Williams
Int: Michael Day, Reece Hourigan, James Cann, Mitchell Athorn
In: Reece Hourigan, Michael Day, Mitchell Athorn
Out: Jonathon Nadin, Callan Wellings, James Gray
Talbot
B: Karl Gunther, Kallan Boucher, Benjamin Heathcock
HB: Kane Heathcock, Jorde Bux, Matthew Smith
C: Tylan Humm, Trent Barras, Mathew Whiteman
HF: Anthony Tatchell, Nathan Smith, Luke Kemp
F: Lachlan Griffiths, Jonathon Arnel, Joshua Parsons
R: Tom Sutherland, Rowan Prentice, Timothy Solomon
Int: Troy Cunningham, Ross Wise
Emg: James Collings
In: Kallan Boucher, Jorde Bux
Out: Josh Sullivan, Brodie Glen, Boe Gilmour
Dunolly v Harcourt
Both Dunolly and Harcourt have had a disappointing start to their season, but the Lions broke through for their first win of the season last round in a very scrappy game against the Avoca Bulldogs.
The Eagles were comprehensively beaten by Natte Bealiba at Hedges Oval last round but will be looking forward to this challenge at Deledio Oval on Saturday as they will feel they are a chance against a struggling Harcourt unit.
Paul Chaplin is a very dangerous midfielder and got loose against Avoca last round and the Eagles will need to cover the former Berry Powell Medalist, whereas Jay Pitto has been a consistent inclusion to the Dunolly midfield and has the ability to win the ball out of the middle for the Eagles.
Dunolly ruckman Adrian Devereaux has also been in good form and will have a good battle with Kris Davis who is yet to hit top form this season and is due for a breakout game.
After finally breaking through for their first win of the season, the Lions will be confident of continuing there winning form and are favoured to win this game.
Dunolly
B: Mitchell Harper, Harry Warren, Hayden Wellard
HB: Timothy Britton, Grant Raven, Dean Foster
C: Matthew Halacas, Tony Bellenger, Michael Campbell
HF: Timothy Conway, Jesse Olsen, Jed Ritchie
F: Joe Thompson, Brendon Tyquin, Jordan Ngawati
R: Dylan Gordois, Jay Pitto, Jamie Townsend
Int: Justin Moore, Khai Collins, Adrian Devereaux, Ayden Mines
In: Khai Collins, Brendon Tyquin, Jordan Ngawati
Out: Bradley Schodde, Lee Jackson, Patrick McGregor
Harcourt
B: Kris Davis, Paul Chaplin, Alex Birch
HB: Clinton Donohue, Timothy Faliszewski, Benjamin Leech
C: Brendan Josey, Jordan Gartside, Sam Gale
HF: Adrian Hicks, Paul McKay, Kyle McLean
F: Alexander Purdon, Brayden Wootton, Jackson McMahon
R: Nickolas Quinn, Christopher Ling, Daniel Smith
Int: Lachlan Van Schaik, Justin Trevan, Dean Watson, Christopher Stone
In: Clinton Donohue, Christopher Ling
Out: Jacob Fitzpatrick, Christopher Smart
Lexton v Maryborough Rovers
Lexton have taken some time to mould together as a unit this season, but finally put it all together last week with a big win over Maldon led by a ten goal game from spearhead Matt Brown.
While Maryborough Rovers have definitely improved this season it will be a difficult chore to get over the top of an inform Lexton. The Rovers have been sticking with teams until midway through all of their games this season, but haven’t yet been able to maintain the challenge in the second half of their games. Having said that, they did push Trentham all of the way, however the Tigers loom as a more formidable opponent.
Lexton is strong in all areas of the team sheet, but their defensive unit is amongst the MCDFNL’s best. Jordan Phelan is amongst the best defenders in the league and he is well supported by interleague selections in Mick Jennings and Nick Spolding, so Rovers spearhead Karson Guareschi will have a tough task this week.
Ruck duo Nigel Reid and Tim Oliver will provide a good challenge for the likes of Ty Stewart, Dion Hedger and Daniel Rossi, but Lexton’s midfield strength led by Damon Aspland and Jimmy Templeton will be too difficult to curtail for the entire game for Rovers to have any chance of winning this game.
Lexton should be able to win this game quite comfortably.
Lexton
B: James Morrish, Ryan Wait, Ashley Davies
HB: Daniel Chester, Michael Jennings, James Cusack
C: James Templeton, Nathan Barnes, Nicholas Spolding
HF: Jordan Phelan, Justin Hobson, Jack Faull
F: Damon Aspland, Matthew Brown, Timothy Oliver
R: Nigel Reid, Dylan Barr, Justin White
Int: Trevor Johnson, Michael Smith, Dean Murray, Joel Williams
In: Jordan Phelan, Joel Williams
Out: Lachlan Murray, Mark Ferguson
Maryborough Rovers
Selected Side Not Submitted
Avoca v Campbells Creek
After a couple of early wins against Harcourt and Talbot this season, Campbells Creek has been brought back to field with losses to Royal Park and Navarre in the past two rounds. Last week’s loss to Navarre was very disappointing for the Creekers especially as they failed to score in the final quarter, while Navarre added nine goals for the term.
Avoca has been very disappointing this season, but are also one of the teams in the comp that are unable to maintain a challenge after keeping with teams until half time.
The Bulldogs were sub-standard last week against Harcourt, failing to keep their structures in place with key forwards drifting down the ground chasing possession, and leaving the forward area understaffed in the process. This will need to be addressed if they are to have any chance this week in what is considered a winnable game for the Bulldogs.
Adam Pollock was outstanding in the ruck for Campbells Creek against Navarre last week and he will be a key factor in this game. His marking ability around the ground is a key asset and it will be a good contest for Avoca coach Adrian Pilgrim who is also in good form for the Bulldogs.
The loss of the high flying Joel Smith will be a big loss for the Creekers as he is considered as their main avenue to goal, and this will give Avoca a very good opportunity to post their first win of the season at the Avoca Public Park on Saturday.
Avoca
To be selected from:
Joel Carter, Murray Bond, Nolan Gould, Joel Howell, Rhys Walkley, Matt Veitch,
Jaye Farnsworth, Jamie Bertram, Ben Howell, Taylor Raine, Hugh Bucknall, Luke Bertram,
Adrian Pilgrim, Teague Wilson, John Bucknall, Jon Goad, Jesse Britton, Bryce Howell,
Brad Schiltz, Mitchell Kennedy, Thomas Nankivell, Cameron Holland
Campbells Creek
B: Shannon Berriman, Shane O'Toole, Matthew Lorenz
HB: Daniel Klimeck, Ryan Jeffrey, Brett Thomson
C: Jayden Molloy, Sean Smith, Joshua Hutchinson
HF: Brandon Greenwood, Ross Slater, Jayson Gilbert
F: Shaun Boag, James Hellwege, James Boag
R: Adam Pollock, Sean Moss, Joshua Adamson
Int: Nathan Stubbings, Paul Keirl, Chris Cassidy, Cordie McKendry
In: James Hellwege, Jayson Gilbert, Paul Keirl
Out: Joel Smith, Aaron Murray, John Prendergast
Royal Park v Natte Bealiba
Royal Park faces what is perhaps its biggest test so this season, as the Tigers prepare to take on a Natte Bealiba side boasting a 3-1 record and plenty of confidence in its own game plan.
The Tigers have proven to the MCDFNl that they’ve got what it takes to mix it with the top sides and feature in their first finals campaign in a number of years, and now have a chance to really make their mark as they come up against the Swans.
Royal Park coach Greg Stewart has done some astute recruiting in his second year at the helm, adding plenty of firepower up forward, to complement the existing targets of Zac Stewart and Hamish Blake, while also injecting some run into the side to assist Brendan Birch and Jarrod O’Connor, meaning the Tigers are no longer the league’s easybeats.
The Swans perhaps represent something more of a challenge than Royal Park’s previous opponents this season, with second-year Swans coach Shane Green quietly putting together an outfit that will prove more than a headache for some the league’s top sides in 2014. The return of mid-sized forward Matt Stagg last week adds another target up forward for the Swans, taking some of the heat off Ryan Weir. The recruitment of Jack Kennedy, who turned out for his first game in the red and white last week, also adds another big body down back to assist veteran defender Chris Jardine.
This looms as a super important game for both sides, and one that both coaches will be intent on winning.
Royal Park
B: Matthew Walker, Ben McKay, Sam Anderson
HB: Jay Anderson, Zack Short, Taylor Stewart
C: James Shelton, Hamish Blake, Shane Gray
HF: Zachary Tunbridge, Oliver Schmidt , Jacob Cahill
F: Brendan Birch, Zachary Stewart, Thomas Quick
R: William Short, Dylan McLean, Jarrod O'Connor
Int: Zachary Dunne, Brendan Murdoch, Jayden Humphrey, Craig McMickan
In: Oliver Schmidt, Dylan McLean
Out: Steven Shovan, Tristan Maher
Natte Bealiba
To be selected from:
Jared Hall, Dean Graco, Ryan Weir, Christopher Jardine, Alexander Banko, Trent Mortlock,
Stephen Ross, Thomas Hart, Brent Mortlock, Kurt Mortlock, Kurtis Torney, Jason Hunt,
Jacob Long, Brayden Mills, Nathan Ross, Lachlan Cameron, Zachary Perez, Shane Mortlock,
Samuel Coloe, Benjamin Weir, Jamie Evans, Joshua Tong
In: Kurt Mortlock, Samuel Coloe, Thomas Hart
Out: Joshua Mottram, Jack Kennedy, Matthew Stagg
Maldon v Newstead
Newstead will have tomorrow’s clash with rivals Maldon pencilled in as a chance to record a big percentage boosting win.
With Newstead in white-hot form and inflicting big defeats on all and sundry in recent weeks, and Maldon at the opposite end of the table, the Steaders will be focussed on piling on as many goals as possible against the Bombers.
One factor that will help achieve that aim is the form of Mark Ramsey. Primarily a defender and pinch-hitting forward for the Roos in past years, Ramsey has become the Steaders focal point up forward this season, and it is paying dividends, with the veteran high-flier recording bag after bag of goals, week in, week out. The supply from the Roos midfield of Webster, Wall and Kerr has also helped, and that trio will be the prime movers in tomorrow’s clash.
Maldon are undeniably struggling at the moment, with the Dons in unfamiliar territory at the very bottom of the MCDFNL ladder and battling to find targets up forward and stem the flow of goals in the opposite direction. The Bombers will be focussed on stopping Ramsey from booting a bag against them tomorrow, particularly after suffering at the hands, and boot, of Lexton forward Matt Brown last week. Sadly for the Dons, it will take a mammoth turnaround in order to stave off a big defeat tomorrow in a match the Roos look sure to win.
Maldon
To be selected from:
Nicholas Kelly, Christopher Mulholland, Nicholas Thornton, Dyllan White, Damien Gatti,
Joel Cross, Nicholas McKnight, Harrison Campbell, Michael Mulholland, Dean Primmer,
Andrew Hall, Jeremy Cross, Mark Webb, Xavier Mawson, Hayden Kelly, Braedan Turtle,
Ben Doyle, Christopher Milham, Michael Rorke, Jake Elliot, Beau Kitchingman,
Bradley Simpson
Newstead
To be selected from:
David Wall, Shane Mcnabb, Adrian Conn, Mitchell Woods, Tom Ruggles, Ben Krol,
Nathan Webster, Liam Gervasoni, Mark Ramsey, Joel Smith, Daniel Christmas,
Lachlan Chapman, Brent Devereaux, Ashley Webster, Bradley Richardson, Ethan Ford,
Zachary Tanner, Adam Hunter, Jayden Bott, Joel Pearson, Matthew Manning,
Patrick Cummins
In: Daniel Christmas, Lachlan Chapman, Liam Gervasoni
Out: Mitchell Gilboy, Jacob Dalrymple, Mathew Merlo
Carisbrook v Navarre
Carisbrook has the unenviable task of taking on competition juggernaut Navarre under lights at home this weekend in round five of the MCDFNL.
While the Redbacks are one of the teams perhaps best equipped to tackle the MCDFNL ladder leaders, the Grasshoppers are in a rare vein of form at the moment, undefeated and boasting one of the most formidable line-ups in the league, with strength from full-back to full forward.
One factor that may play into the Brook’s hands this round is the fact that the game is on the Redbacks’ home turf under lights, a scenario that usually yields four points for the home side, with just a handful of losses under lights in the past three years. This is a different story however, with the Redbacks tasked with stopping a Navarre forward line that boasts both Ash Driscoll and Kris Brennan as its main targets, along with assistance from Cody Driscoll, all the while trying to halt the supply from the Grasshoppers’ midfield and score against the league’s most miserly backline.
All the usual big names will need to stand up for Carisbrook if they are to bring about Navarre’s first loss of the season in the forms of Nick Wright, Jackson Bowen, Cole Roscholler and company, but they will need some of their lesser-known teammates to rise to the occasion. Two pivotal battles will be between whichever Redbacks defender goes to Driscoll, most likely to be the spring-heeled Tim Heenan, while Carisbrook run-with specialist, Jon Gray, will need to keep wraps on Grasshoppers coach Daniel Parkin.
Carisbrook
To be selected from:
Liam Cunningham, Cole Roscholler, Clayton Furniss, Travis Cornwill, Nichlos Wright, Mitchell Whelan, Liam Tranter, Jacob Dyer, Justin Sculley, Isaac Long, Aaron Carr, Nick Robinson,
Jeremy Mc Innes, Brandon McRedmond, Ryan Hudson-Morgan, Nathan O'Keefe, Christopher Dunn, Luke Treacy, Andrew Lovett, Troy Nolan, Jonathon Gray, Stephen Marr, Jackson Bowen
In: Justin Sculley, Christopher Dunn, Jacob Dyer, Stephen Marr, Liam Tranter, Travis Cornwill, Aaron Carr
Out: Benjamin Kick, Brayden Collicoat, Jakob Tidyman, Hayden Barby, Mark Cox, Patrick Jenes
Navarre
B: Matt Newton, Jayden Fowkes, Cody Driscoll
HB: Luke Hendy, Brent Flood, Ashley Driscoll
C: Bryce Tickner, Josh Driscoll, Ben Scott
HF: Jesse Hannett, Lachlan Slorach, Daniel Reading
F: Josh Fowkes, Kris Brennan, Nicholas Murphy
R: Rhett Murphy, Sam Kaye, Daniel Parkin
Int: Billy Parry, Samuel Robertson, Zach Parry, Harley McKenny
Emg: Aaron Slorach, Tyler Mc Sparron
In: Ben Scott, Jesse Hannett
Out: Brian Lovison
Last Modified on 16/05/2014 16:35