AVENEL v GIRGARRE
This match will be a huge test of how much Girgarre has improved this year.
Last year, the Kangaroos only won the five matches, but already they have chalked up three wins and there is no doubt that regardless of today’s result they will win plenty more games.
Coach Todd Woodfine knows that if his team are to be taken seriously then they need to dish up similar performances to the one that got them the chocolates against Murchison.
He knows that if they can replicate that form then they are a real chance against the Swans.
The inclusion of former Saint Troy Schwarz is going to be massive for the Kangaroos.
He is expected to play for the remainder of the season and he will give them another player will polish to sit alongside the likes of Paul Parsons, Ashley Kirchhofer and Jake Hyland.
Avenel has gone up a gear this year under new coach Donald Stirling.
They were already a really good team under their previous mentor, but they have welcomed back Kasey Duncan back to the fold while the likes of Cael McCarthy, Michael McKenzie, Trent Fallon and Josh Mabon have starred for them.
This game will tell us a fair bit about where both these sides are at at this very early stage.
LANCASTER v MERRIGUM
Who would have thought that we would be saying that this is a must win game for both today.
Merrigum has made a disappointing start to their title defence and are struggling to recapture the form that took them to that drought breaking premiership.
Christian Barnett is likely to welcome back a few more key players for this match and is hopeful that Jake Ross and Chris Kilmartin will be fit to take their place after going off early in the loss to Stanhope.
He will also be expecting a response following the crushing defeat to last year’s runner up.
On the other hand, Lancaster has been really competitive except for the opening game of the season.
Coby O’Neill and Colby McDonald proved fantastic focal points in the win against Undera while the coach Nicholas Bertoli, Jack Donnell, Zac Cerrone, Sam Spedding and Michael Hill were all valuable contributors in the win.
A lot would have to go well for the Bulldogs to break their duck today.
RUSHWORTH v NAGAMBIE
The first challenge for Rushworth coach Jason Hucker is to get his players to believe they can beat Nagambie.
No matter the task he needs to instill confidence in his troops.
Regardless of the outcome, Rushworth will take plenty from the match. A win would be massive and a defeat would not be the end of the world.
The Tigers were in the contest for most of the match against Girgarre and Hucker will hope his team can avoid lapses of concentration like the one in the second quarter last week.
Brett Anderson, Daniel Lambden, Todd Clarke and Craig Turner were valuable contributors in the Tigers’ loss last week and they will need to play well along with the entire squad.
Nagambie has been absolute ruthless from the opening day of the season.
It is a difficult team to match up on with so many options to goal.
Last weekend, they had nine guys hit the scoreboard, with Kyle Winter-Irving leading the way.
What Linc Sullivan wold be loving is that he gets a contribution from every player who takes the park.
In other matches, Stanhope should make it five wins in a row at home against Ardmona, Tallygaroopna needs to be on its guard to return to the winners’ circle when taking on Undera and neighbours Violet Town and Longwood do battle.
My tips: Violet Town, Tallygaroopna, Stanhope, Nagambie, Lancaster and Avenel.
Last Modified on 03/05/2016 13:37