Carisbrook v Natte Bealiba
Two of the MCDFNL’s heavyweights will go toe-to-toe this weekend, with Natte Bealiba set to take on Carisbrook.
The showdown between the second-placed Redbacks and the third-placed Swans could have a major bearing on the make-up of the competition’s top four come finals time, with Natte locked in an ongoing battle with Lexton and Royal Park to take third and fourth spots.
Since going down to Navarre in round one, Carisbrook has swept all before them, and looks almost guaranteed to finish second on the ladder.
The Redbacks’ depth, particularly in its midfield and forward line, is among the league’s best, boasting names such as Matt Bilton, Nathan Wright, Lachlan Edwards, Nick Wright and Luke Treacy, which is enough to set any opposition coach’s teeth on edge.
Such is the depth at Carisbrook coach Tim McKay’s disposal, the side went into last week’s clash minus as many as eight regular senior players, yet still managed to dominate Trentham to the tune of 83-points.
Natte Bealiba coach Shane Green will be keen to see his players rise to the challenge against the Redbacks, particularly after a lacklustre showing against Maryborough Rovers last round.
Despite Natte only entering the competition alongside Navarre and Lexton in 2011, these two sides have managed to develop an intense rivalry with one another, which has resulted in some standout games over the past five seasons.
Given the circumstances on Saturday, this clash should be no different.
Carisbrook
B: Riley Herd, Hayden Barby, Luke Treacy
HB: Nathan O'Keefe, Jake Bucknall, Kurt Breuchert
C: Jacob Dyer, Nichlos Wright, Matthew Bilton
HF: Mitchell Whelan, Adam Hurse, Ryan Hudson-Morgan
F: Liam Mottram, Nathan Wright, Jack Ross
R: Ty Stewart, Lachlan Edwards, Ashley Robinson
Int: Jakob Tidyman, Travis Cornwill, Timothy Heenan, Matthew Jukes
In: Matthew Jukes, Ryan Hudson-Morgan, Adam Hurse, Nathan Wright, Luke Treacy, Kurt Bruechert, Matthew Bilton
Out: Benjamin Kick, Ryan Cash, Ben Etheridge, Jayden Taggart, Jordan Bolding, Timothy McKay, Patrick Jenes
Natte Bealiba
B: Christopher Jardine, Jack Kennedy, Trent Mortlock
HB: Dean Graco, Ashley Evans, Jamie Evans
C: Daniel Gifford, Karl Morley, Brent Mortlock
HF: Matthew Stagg, Kurt Mortlock, Zachary Perez
F: Jarrod Graco, Adrian Pilgrim, Brayden Mills
R: Lachlan Cameron, Jacob Long, Thomas Douglas
Int: Ryan Weir, Stephen Ross, Michael Columbro, Jarrod Bateson
In: Ashley Evans
Out: Shane Mortlock
Harcourt v Navarre
Harcourt will become the next team to attempt to halt the juggernaut that is Navarre on Saturday, with the Lions and the Grasshoppers squaring off on the Lions’ home turf.
After starting the season in red-hot form, the Lions’ hellishly difficult draw over the past month has seen the side slip from second to sixth on the competition’s ladder, and Saturday’s clash with the all-conquering Grasshoppers looms as the exclamation point on a tough four weeks for Harcourt.
Any chance the Lions have of putting a halt to Navarre’s 34-game unbeaten run will rest on the ability of the Harcourt backline, led by veteran Alan Mack, and their ability to restrict the output of the Grasshoppers’ star-studded forward line.
At the opposite end of the ground, Harcourt boast plenty of their own goalkicking firepower, but whether the likes of Joel Smith, Adam Pollock and Chris Stone can overcome Navarre’s well-drilled defence remains to be seen.
The Grasshoppers did suffer a slight threat to their winning run last round in a hard-fought encounter with Lexton, but in true Navarre style, simply found a way to win.
In fact, such has been Navarre’s form over the past 12 weeks, almost every superlative to describe their collective abilities has been exhausted, except to say that they are far and away the competition’s yardstick at the moment, and whether Harcourt, or for that matter, any team in the competition can stop them gathering a third consecutive premiership remains to be seen.
Harcourt
B: Alex Birch, Joshua Collinson, Michael Dwyer
HB: Sam Gale , Jordan Gartside, Brendan Josey
C: Paul McKay, Brendan March, Alan Mack
HF: Kyle McLean, Jeffrey McMurtrie, Lachlan Mika
F: Adam Pollock, Joel Smith, Christopher Stone
R: Adam Ward, Andrew Chapman, Michael McMurtrie
Int: Daniel Smith, Jason Shaw, Tasman Scoles, Justin Michielsen
In: Justin Michielsen, Tasman Scoles, Andrew Chapman, Jason Shaw, Daniel Smith, Michael McMurtrie
Out: Sean Moss, Scott Jordan, Matthew Giri, Michael McConnell, Christopher Ling, Sean Smith
Navarre
B: Matt Newton, Josh Driscoll, Brent Flood
HB: Daniel Parkin, Zach Parry, Ben Scott
C: Riley Bibby, Sam Kaye, Lachlan Slorach
HF: Bryce Tickner, Jayden Fowkes, Billy Parry
F: Aiden Lee, Ashley Driscoll, Jesse Hannett
R: Josh Fowkes, Daniel Reading, Aaron Slorach
Int: Nicholas Murphy, Harley McKenny, Louis Hannett, Cody Driscoll
Emg: Jeremy Harrington, Thomas Dyke
In: Harley McKenny, Aiden Lee
Out: Austin Squire, Jeremy Harrington
Lexton v Trentham
Lexton will be keen to bounce back from its rare foray onto the list of MCDFNL losers last round and return to winning form when the Tigers take on Trentham this weekend.
While Lexton coach Shane Fisher will be pleased to know that his side has the ability to push the ladder leaders to the brink, he will be keen to see the side return to third place on the ladder, after last week’s loss saw them leapfrogged by Natte Bealiba.
Now sitting in fourth, Fisher will turn to his senior players in Matthew Brown, Jordan Phelan, Nigal Reid and Damon Aspland in order to get the job done against the Saints this weekend, and hopefully score a healthy percentage boosting victory.
Brown in particular has been in stellar form over the past two rounds, booting bags of eight and four in the Tigers’ past two outings, and along with Lachlan Murray, forms a devastating one-two punch inside the Tigers’ forward 50.
Phelan is another Lexton player in red-hot form, with his ability to play in defence or up forward, coupled with his raking kick and overhead marking, giving Fisher a versatile weapon to plug gaps where needed.
If the Saints are to stave off yet another big loss, following last week’s 83-point thrashing at the hands of Carisbrook, they will need massive efforts from some of their big names, including Luke Whitehouse, Mark Strickland and Lewis Bruton.
Disappointingly for the Saints, it’s been confirmed that star teenager Jake Keogh is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a nasty knock to the head two rounds ago.
Lexton
B: Trevor Johnson, Liam Cullinan, Jordan Egan
HB: Nicholas Spolding, Michael Jennings, James Morrish
C: James Templeton, Scott Clark, Luke Evans
HF: Mitchell Kennedy, Riley Browne, Justin White
F: Justin Hobson, Matthew Brown, Lachlan Murray
R: Nigel Reid, Damon Aspland, Dylan Barr
Int: Lachlan Pryor, Jacob Spolding, Bryce Karslake, Jack Faull
Emg: Thomas Fisher, Ashley Davies, Matthew Torpey
In: Lachlan Pryor, Jacob Spolding, Justin Hobson
Out: Ryan Wait, Jordan Phelan, Nathan Barnes
Trentham
B: Simon Boxall, Brendan James, Jamie Cutler
HB: Paul Smith, Curtis McNamara, Taylor Drew
C: Mark Strickland, Christopher Whelan, Isaac Jennings
HF: Lewis Bruton, Luke Whitehouse, Hayden Sundblom
F: Luke Adams, Justin Hoffman, Kasey Williams
R: James Wicker, John Cowell, Ross Moloney
Int: Jared Muir, James Gray, Daniel Lendrec, Josh Murphy
In: Josh Murphy, Ross Moloney, Jamie Cutler, Kasey Williams
Out: James Cann
Avoca v Campbells Creek
Avoca host Campbells Creek on Saturday in the battle for eight position on the ladder.
Campbells Creek currently sit in eighth position, just one rung ahead of the ninth-placed Bulldogs with just percentage separating the two teams.
Avoca are on a late season surge having won their past three games and it could quite easily have been four in a row after losing to Talbot narrowly by two points back in Round 9. The Bulldogs improvement has come as a result of having a full list to choose from after a horror run of injuries early in the season.
Campbells Creek have been in good form recently and have had big wins over Maldon and Talbot in the past three rounds, and defeated Maldon in a far more convincing manner than Avoca did last week.
Formline may point to Campbells Creek having the upper hand in this game on Saturday, but the home ground advantage may even it up for the Bulldogs.
A close game is expected and a win could go either way.
Avoca
B: Taylor Hall, Jesse Britton, Toby Beavis
HB: Joel Carter, Andrew Hewson, Hugh Bucknall
C: James Walton, Lachlan Morganti, Cameron Holland
HF: Xavier Slater, Haydn Slater, Paul Loaney
F: Luke Mahoney, Ben Howell, John Bucknall
R: Rangi Vickers, Jacob Nicholson, Michael Henningsen
Int: Devon Svilicic, Joel Howell, Bryce Howell, Taylor Raine
Campbells Creek
B: Ryan Jeffrey, Jayden Molloy, Luke Pritchard
HB: Matthew Lorenz, Brayden Beer, Cordie McKendry
C: Tim Conder, James Boag, Matthew Halacas
HF: Carl Simmons, Shannon Berriman, Shaun Boag
F: Luke Ashmore, Mark Ashmore, Joshua Adamson
R: Dylan Gordois, Brandon Greenwood, Daniel Klimeck
Int: Jayson Gilbert, Benjamin O'Byrne, Anthony Taylor, Liam Stubbings
In: Brayden Beer, Liam Stubbings, Cordie McKendry, Benjamin O'Byrne
Out: Luke Preston, Cody Adamson, Ross Slater, Chris Klimeck
Talbot v Dunolly
It has been an up and down season for the Talbot Hawks who are coming off a loss to Campbells Creek last round, but will have the opportunity to atone this week when they host Dunolly who have only won one game for the season.
The Hawks went into last week’s game without their leader in Matthew Smith and his absence proved to be a key factor in the Hawks loss to Creek.
Josh Sullivan, Trent Barras and Liam Belcher are players that the Hawks rely heavily on and have been in the better players on a consistent basis, and if they are to get back on the winners list, then they will once again have to be at their best.
This could be a danger game for the Hawks as Dunolly handed Trentham a football lesson back in Round 6, and Trentham defeated Talbot earlier in the year, so there is a possibility that the Eagles may get their second win of the season.
While it is unlikely that this could happen based on current form, the Hawks will not go into this game unprepared and should be able to return to winning form.
Talbot
B: Josh Sullivan, Luke How, Drew Hancock
HB: Brendon Shine, Timothy Carroll, Matthew Smith
C: Timothy Solomon, Jarrod Kemp, Shaun Carroll
HF: Nicholas Perry, Tom Sutherland, Matthew Whitman
F: Kane Heathcock, James Collings, Daniel Romeo
R: Robert Conroy, Luke Kemp, Trent Barras
Int: Lachlan Griffiths, Jorde Bux, Liam Belcher, Kallan Boucher
In: Matthew Smith, Jarrod Kemp, Shaun Carroll, Jonathon Arnel
Out: Ross Wise, Ryan Kenden
Dunolly
B: Jamie Townsend, Grant Raven, Jeremy Hancock
HB: Hayden Wellard, Matthew Stiles, Jackson Baker
C: Patrick McGregor, Michael Campbell, Steven Shovan
HF: Joe Thompson, Justin Laird, David Bilton
F: Jason Haley, Justin Moore, Craig Gloury
R: Jordi Philbrick, Peter Wytkamp, Matthew Gibbs
Int: Corey Dawson, Bradley McHugh
In: Corey Dawson, Bradley McHugh
Out: Jayden McDonald, Charlie Knowles, Wayne Lanfranchi, James Blackwell
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Royal Park v Maldon
Royal Park are coming off a very strong victory over Harcourt in which they replaced the Lions on the ladder in fifth place and they will enter into this game against Maldon full of confidence as the Bombers are struggling at the lower end of the ladder.
Murray Bond returned to his best last week and his six goals was a key in the Tigers winning performance. Stefan Pye and Jake Pring are in outstanding form around the ground for Royal Park and Jay Anderson is always solid in defence and can slip forward to kick goals. Pye and Pring will have a good battle with Hayden Kelly and Shaun Burchell, but the Tigers will be too strong in other positions on the ground.
Maldon pushed the Bulldogs all of the way last week, but Royal Park are travelling a bit better than Avoca this season and will prove to be a much tougher obstacle to get over than the Bulldogs.
The Tigers need all of the percentage they can get and will be out to win by a big margin at Hedges Oval on Saturday.
Royal Park
B: James Lindeback, Chris Cowan, Zachary Dunne
HB: Jay Anderson, Zachary Tunbridge, Taylor Stewart
C: Bradley Allan, Murray Bond, Hamish Blake
HF: Jacob Cahill, Zachary Stewart, Stefan Pye
F: Michael Noonan, Joshua Brown, Jake Pring
R: James Sutherland, Ross Waters, Ben Clay
Int: Lawrence Perks, William Short, Trent Baird, Christopher Morley
In: Lawrence Perks
Out: Trent Pye
Maldon
B: Dean Primmer, Matthew Gordon, Jackson Douch
HB: Nicholas McKnight, Michael Mulholland, Damien Gatti
C: Bryce Roberts, Hayden Kelly, Matthew Gray
HF: Leigh Halliwell, Nicholas Kelly, Jake Elliot
F: Kyle Winstanley, Jamie Cox, Joshua Hutchinson
R: Josh Pascoe, Shaun Burchell, Vaughan Williams
Int: Christopher Milham, Lachie Josey, Harley Brereton, Isaiah Hartley
In: Nicholas McKnight
Out: Mark Webb
Maryborough Rovers v Newstead
Maryborough Rovers are sitting in 7th place on the ladder and are coming off a very solid performance against Natte-Bealiba last round, and they’ll start favourites against Newstead at Jubilee Oval this weekend.
The Magpies lost to the Swans by thirty points, but it was only a second quarter lapse that proved to be very costly as the Magpies matched and actually outscored their opponents in the second half.
While Newstead are not as competitive as the Swans this season, they will certainly provide a hard fought match for the Rovers, who were recently beaten by Avoca at Jubilee Oval.
The Steaders have only won two games for the season, but have the ability to surprise their opposition and will be looking at this match as a winnable game, as Newstead were able to outscore Avoca earlier in the season and will be buoyed by the fact that Avoca got the upper hand over Rovers in round eleven.
Rovers defence has been strengthened recently with Aaron Westbrook and Danny Whitnall playing very well, and Kel Chaffey-Jones did a very good job at keeping Adrian Pilgrim to nil goals on Saturday. Veterans Brad Fraser and Scott Sellers are other members of a strong defensive unit and also have the ability to go forward if needed.
It will be difficult to see Newstead being able to penetrate Rovers back half and as a result will find it difficult to kick a winning score at Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
Maryborough Rovers
B: Brendon Hedger, Kel Chaffey-Jones, David Popovski
HB: Scott Sellers, Danny Whitnall, Aaron Westbrook
C: Dylan Gibson, Dale Larkin, Bryce Fletcher
HF: Daniel Jennison, Christopher Gunn, Ryan Guareschi
F: Bradley Fraser, Dion Hedger, Tristan Knights
R: Karson Guareschi, Brayden Guareschi, Richard Phillips
Int: Grant Ryan, James Rowles, Adam Mclean, Brohdie Smyth
In: Adam Mclean, James Rowles, Dale Larkin
Out: Jay Clark, Matthew Peck, Henry Potter
Newstead
B: Ashley Webster, Cody Kirby, Brent Devereaux
HB: Michael Dalrymple, Dale Bott, Blake Renfrey
C: Adam Hunter, Nathan Webster, Liam Gervasoni
HF: Alex Maylor, Adrian Conn, Oscar Lynzaat
F: Thomas Cahill, Jonty Entwisle, Ben Krol
R: Scott Beames, Joel Smith, Cameron Hepburn
Int: Cameron Trait, Joel Thomas, Courtney Brown, Kaleb Mcbride
In: Kaleb Mcbride, Courtney Brown
Out: Otis Rees-MacLean, Steven Pollard
Last Modified on 24/07/2015 18:49