COBURG DISTRICTS v ROXBURGH PARK
HOW many more chances can we give Coburg Districts to come good?
The Lions are again behind with their win-loss ratio (6-7) after falling five points short of Moonee Valley last week, but because of how close Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 is, they’re still only one win outside the top four.
They were missing their best player in Tom Lucin last week, but Chris Tankard still had some quality out on the park, with the Vesnaver brothers combining for seven goals at Ormond Park.
In fact, the Lions had a good spread of goalkickers and they’ll all be required to have another big one against a Roxburgh Park outfit that knows how to attack.
Yet again, it was some poor kicking that proved costly for the Magpies as the more efficient Saints got them for the third time this season.
Luke Capuano’s seven goals reminded us just how dangerous he can be at this level and he’ll need to be stopped if the Lions are any chance of reversing their fortunes from the previous two meetings between these sides.
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v EAST SUNBURY
Normally this is the match-up everyone at Bear Force One looks forward to but given the Bears have now beaten every team in the division except for the Thunder, it now has that little more spice to it.
The Bears have been on again, off again, but are on a two-game winning streak and enjoyed their third and final bye last week.
They would have had a good look at East Sunbury’s four-goal win over Hadfield and pinpointed where the Thunder can be found out.
Of late the Thunder’s percentage has dipped dramatically due to some shocking blowout losses where they failed to restrict opposition scoring.
Until Round 9 East Sunbury was by far the best defensive team in the competition.
But those days are now behind us and we still don’t know if new coach Glenn Hopkins will be able to get East Sunbury back to the form that saw the Thunder at the top of the ladder and flying at the start of winter.
You almost trust Burnside Heights’ form more than you do East Sunbury’s but the Thunder seems to match up well against the Bears.
If it stays dry and still, then advantage East Sunbury.
NORTHERN SAINTS v HADFIELD
This is the match-up Hadfield always lifts itself for but right now the Northern Saints are the premiership favourites in the eyes of many.
The Saints clearly have a mental edge over Roxburgh Park and scored their third win over the Magpies for the year last week, but it wasn’t all that convincing at Lakeside Drive.
Up by 20 at half time, the Saints allowed Roxburgh Park back into the contest in third term before steadying in the last, but conditions could well have been the main factor in that one.
The Rocky Ferraro - Khodr Taleb combo forward line is giving opposition defenders nightmares, while the Saints’ midfield is arguably the division’s most consistent.
Hadfield does have some good players that play important roles and the likes of Harley Ferguson, Steve Angus and Brett Bitts will give Saints coach Paul Dunn something to think about.
If the Saints want to lock in a top two finish then these sorts of games are non-negotiable and it’s important they don’t take their foot off the gas in this one.
