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ROXBURGH PARK v COBURG DISTRICTS - Radio Game
WHEN these two sides met back in Round 2, Roxburgh Park handed Coburg Districts a three-point loss.
It was only three points, but it signalled to the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 pundits that, perhaps, last year’s runner-up was in for a tough year.
Coburg Districts’ critics have been vocal so far this year but with impressive recent wins over the Northern Saints and Moonee Valley, the Lions have done well to get their 2018 campaign back on track.
Up until last week, Roxburgh Park was the hottest team of the division, but it seems they don’t like travelling down Sydney Road to Charles Mutton Reserve, losing their second game there for the year.
At home the Magpies are so far undefeated and haven’t had any trouble, but Coburg Districts is the best side they’ve come up against at Lakeside Drive to date.
If Chris Lynch plays then his battle with Ferras Merhi in the ruck will be crucial, while Ricky McGill and his fellow Coburg Districts defenders will face their biggest challenge yet against the Magpies’ dynamic forward setup.
HADFIELD v NORTHERN SAINTS
The closest Hadfield has come to any opponent this year was back in Round 2, getting within five goals of the Northern Saints in tricky conditions at Martin Reserve.
This is also a home game for the Hawks, but you can’t make a case for them getting any closer this time around.
The Saints welcomed Jake McSwain back into the line-up last week and with Rocky Ferraro continuing his great start to the year, they may be back on their way to true contender status themselves.
Paul Dunn has used the first two months of the season to assess exactly what he is working with and now that we’re getting to the halfway point of the year, it’s time for the Saints to assert themselves on Strathmore Community Bank Division 2.
Premiership contenders win games like this well, so expect the Saints to build some percentage in this one.
EAST SUNBURY v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
East Sunbury had an outstanding start to their 2018 campaign but the most pleasing thing about their season to date is that its success has been sustained.
Back-to-back wins over Coburg Districts and Hadfield since their Round 6 bye has kept the Thunder on top of the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 ladder, and while coach Steve Grey is still asking more of his young group, he has to be pleased with the season so far.
Jamerson Campbell isn’t the most well-known forward of the division but he’s doing his job nicely in the absence of Tom Burnside, kicking 19 goals for the year to date.
The ball has been coming in swiftly and efficiently for the most part, thanks to a stellar all-round effort from the Thunder’s midfield group.
All in all, they should have too much speed and class for Burnside Heights, but the Bears are now capable of troubling most sides in the division – as shown in Round 5 at Coburg Districts.
Stephen Kenrick is finding some form and Josh Covelli is giving most of the defenders he plays on nightmares, while Anthony Fawcus is fast becoming the Bears’ other star contributor on a weekly basis.
If they’re all up and going then it’ll be a tricky game for East Sunbury, but they should have enough depth to overcome any Burnside Heights challenge this weekend.
