BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
BOTH Burnside Heights and Moonee Valley enjoyed last week off after battling through tough, physical encounters in Round 9.
While that shouldn’t favour one team over the other in this game, both clubs will have made the most of it.
The Bears have tapered off a touch after a blistering start to the season, which included a high-scoring 20-point win at Moonee Valley back in Round 2.
Josh Covelli (eight goals) and Anthony Fawcus (three) got hold of the Valley’s back line that day, but it was the Fog’s first game of the year after a staggered lead-in.
The visitors here are a different proposition now.
In Round 8 they weren’t disgraced in a 38-point loss away to raging hot flag favourite, Sunbury, and then followed up a week later by grinding out a hard-fought 31-point win over a physical Hadfield unit.
If Cory McGrath, Braden Padmore, Rocky Ferraro and Jordan Faba all fire, Moonee Valley is very hard to beat.
Coach Shanon Carroll has also hinted at the possible return of skipper Ned Wilson, but even if he does play, you wouldn’t be expecting him to be his usual self after 12 months out due to a knee-reconstruction.
All that said, this is a coin flip, but if the Valley is genuine about being the best challenger to Sunbury, then it needs to prove it here.
Same probably goes for Burnside Heights.
HADFIELD v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
That was a total shocker for the Northern Saints last week.
The EDFL Match of the Day cameras came to Charles Mutton Reserve and we were all keen to see if the Saints’ fast-breaking game style would be able to challenge the might of the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Not only did they fall short, the Northern Saints had their pants pulled down in front of more than 3000 streaming viewers.
The effort was clearly lacking, and Sunbury was hence allowed to do as they pleased for two hours.
It looked more like match-sim for the Kangaroos than a competitive game between two likely Division 2 finalists.
The good news for Saints fans, though, is they are clearly much better than what they delivered last week, and the only acceptable response here is an all-out blitz on a young Hadfield outfit.
The Hawks like to pressure opposition and will give 100 per cent effort more often than not.
Teams that lack finishing power have to play that way if they want to be competitive.
But this a game style that is taxing and very hard to sustain over a full season.
The Hawks would have enjoyed an easier game last week against Keilor Park and did well to put the sword to the Devils early.
Brad Murphy’s nine-goal haul served as a reminder of the quality he brings to the table but playing coach Brett Pitts will be hoping more of his teammates come to the fore here.
The Saints were stung on the big stage last week, so expect a strong response from Brett Kennerley’s men against a local rival.
EAST SUNBURY v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Reserve
After much hype in the lead-up, the first ever ‘Sunbury Derby’ was a non-event back in Round 2.
The Sunbury Kangaroos booted nine goals to one in the first half under lights at Eric Boardman Reserve and never allowed East Sunbury a sniff.
The Thunder was better after half time, but the game was already well and truly iced.
It was the first time we really got to see what Sunbury was capable of, with Josh Burgess and Lachie Baddeley both kicking four goals and Brenton Sutherland and David House holding down their roles further up the ground with aplomb.
The Kangaroos had match-winners all over Charles Mutton Reserve last week, with Michael Kilty booting six alongside Baddeley, who was best-on-ground with five to go with his influential play outside the arc and occasionally in ruck.
Their overall star power was just far too much for the Northern Saints to overcome.
Looking at what East Sunbury is bringing to the table, it’s hard to pinpoint why things would be much different here.
Many were feeling bullish about the Thunder after beating Burnside Heights in Round 9, but some of that goodwill was undone last week at Coburg Districts.
The Lions strangled East Sunbury and forced them into a tight, dogged arm wrestle - the sort of game East Sunbury isn’t exactly known for.
The offensive flow has been lacking dearly for Glenn Hopkins’ men of late, and if the trend continues here then the undefeated Kangaroos are firmly in the box seat to collect another big win.
