ROXBURGH PARK v NORTHERN SAINTS
STRATHMORE Community Bank Division 2 is as unpredictable as ever, and it’s games like this that demonstrate why.
Within the past fortnight both Roxburgh Park and the Northern Saints have occupied top spot on the ladder, but right now neither do.
That’s because both the Magpies and Saints have dropped recent games to Burnside Heights.
Maybe complacency was a factor in each case, but what these results have shown us is that no match-up between any top six side is easy to predict.
Roxburgh Park’s poor kicking at goal has proven costly on numerous occasions this season.
That was the case in the Magpies’ two losses to the Saints earlier in the year, which might indicate that they have got the overall attacking flair and potency to match the Northern Saints.
With dry conditions expected in the lead-up to Saturday, there’s no reason why this won’t be one of the more entertaining games of the season.
MOONEE VALLEY v COBURG DISTRICTS
At the mid-point of the season many of us had our doubts about Moonee Valley.
The Fog went down to Burnside Heights in a broadcast game back in Round 10 – which at the time was its third successive loss.
But since then the Fog has improved immensely and is now on a three-game winning streak that has returned them to the top of the ladder.
While you give credit for that, you also have to acknowledge that the Fog was probably lucky last week, with the Magpies failing to convert in front of goal on numerous occasions in a close game.
Their form hasn’t been convincing enough to automatically hand them the favourites tag against Coburg Districts, especially given that head-to-head, this match-up sits at 1-1 for Season 2018.
In their most recent meeting, Coburg Districts stars Matt Vesnaver, Tom Lucin and Chris Lynch all stood tall in a 15-point win at Cole Reserve.
It’s a match-up that Coburg Districts seemingly doesn’t mind, which means each side’s respective ladder position is probably irrelevant in this one.
HADFIELD v EAST SUNBURY
Hadfield will be looking at this game as a massive chance to claim its second win of the season.
The Hawks enjoyed a bye last week after what has easily been their best three-week stretch of the season to date.
After beating Burnside Heights in Round 11, the Hawks have been competitive against both Roxburgh Park and Moonee Valley, so clearly they’re improving.
With improvement comes confidence and if you ignore everything that happened prior to Round 11, on form, Hadfield is every chance of claiming a second win here.
East Sunbury’s quest for a maiden finals berth has hit a critical point.
While the Thunder is still fourth, last week’s loss to Coburg Districts could prove to be very costly come the end of Round 21.
The wind can take hold at a ground like John McMahon Reserve like no other, but the fact that East Sunbury finished the day with 4.12 to Coburg Districts’ 7.2 might be a sign that some of the Thunder’s woes are mental.
The guns all stood tall last week and if Kamen Ogilvie, Tom Cree, Jorden Braddy and Lachie Brne all do their jobs here, then the Thunder will be looking to run themselves back into some form in this one.
