MOONEE VALLEY v EAST SUNBURY - Selected Squads
THIS is a top-of-the-table clash few would have seen coming.
Moonee Valley is always one of those Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 clubs that is thereabouts but never quite a true contender.
But the Shanon Carroll era has begun with flying colours, as no one has yet been able to stop the Fog in Season 2018.
Given Ormond Park is currently a construction site, Moonee Valley has the best home ground advantage in Division 2 and conditions will not be ideal for East Sunbury.
As the Northern Saints showed at times last week, if you can restrict East Sunbury’s space and time around the contest to use the ball by hand, then you can get the better of the Thunder on the scoreboard.
But that’s not easy to do when East Sunbury has its gun players firing on all cylinders.
Tom Cree, Brad Bernacki and Kamen Ogilvie are three of the division’s biggest stars and each can hurt you all over the ground.
Moonee Valley will be relying on Ned Wilson, Braden Padmore and Cory McGrath to match East Sunbury’s quality across the park to keep the Fog’s unbeaten record intact.
COBURG DISTRICTS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS - Selected Squads
The Lions got the monkey off their backs last week against Hadfield and now they can focus working their way back into form as we approach the middle portions of the season.
With reigning comp medallist Luke Vesnaver out, brother Matthew was the star with seven snags in the win over the Hawks.
What’s been most pleasing for Chris Tankard so far is the emergence of new players Chris Lynch, Alex Johnson and Justin Blackley.
If the Lions stay healthy then they’ll be a contender once more, and it’s games like this where they need to stamp their authority.
Burnside Heights are tracking along OK so far but Aidan Stott will still be disappointed with a 1-2 record.
The Bears kicked poorly at Ormond Park last week and are still lacking some goal-kicking help for Josh Covelli.
This is another tough away game for the Bears and they’ll need some luck going their way to get up in this one.
ROXBURGH PARK v HADFIELD - Selected Squads
Roxburgh Park has gone about its business quite nicely since that disappointing Round 1 loss to the Northern Saints.
The Magpies applied themselves well in both their games against Coburg Districts and East Sunbury and to emerge from that fortnight with a win was a fair effort.
They’ll be refreshed after having Round 4 off and should be feeling pretty good about making a good account of themselves here at home to Hadfield.
Unfortunately, it seems the Hawks have not been able to improve since coming down from Essendon Ford Division 1 and were again disappointing against Coburg Districts last week.
They simply haven’t got the cattle, but we need to be patient, because Hadfield is coming from a very long way back after two years in the doldrums of Division 1.
Making finals was never really on the agenda for 2018, anyway.
Roxburgh Park should be looking to score a win in what is its first home game of the year.
