NORTHERN SAINTS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
🎥 Broadcast Game 📻
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
IF the Sunbury Kangaroos are at all beatable, then we’ll get a good indication of it here.
They have been relentless with their form of late, putting Coburg Districts to the sword in strong fashion after quarter time last week.
Josh Burgess kicked his second bag of 11 for the year in the monstrous 137-point win and is now the division’s outright leading goal kicker, one goal ahead of Burnside Heights’ Josh Covelli.
His support cast of Lachie Baddeley and Michael Kilty are also finding avenues to goal on a regular basis, while new inclusion Brad Slater has already booted 15 goals in only four appearances so far this year.
The Kangaroos have been so good that some now believe they are the best team Division 2 has seen in its eight-year existence, including the 2013 Hillside team that went 17-1 and was led by Ryan Hargrave, Aisakie O’hAilpin and Fabio Dilizia.
But the Sharks did lose one game in 2013 and if the Kangaroos were to slip up, then the Northern Saints could be the team to cause it.
The Saints have won three in a row and their only two losses for the year were ‘honourable’.
Their first loss was in Round 1 away to the Kangaroos, where a lapse in concentration in the third term resulted in a 27-point Sunbury win.
That remains Sunbury’s smallest home win of the year.
If the Saints can spread well enough and maintain it for four quarters then they’re every chance of pulling off an upset, it’s going to require all hands on deck.
COBURG DISTRICTS v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
At face value, Coburg Districts’ huge loss at Eric Boardman Reserve last week would be cause for major concern.
But throughout 2019, the Lions have proven to be a very inconsistent side.
At times they’ve been able to match it with the likes of Moonee Valley, the Northern Saints and Burnside Heights, but the lack of in-game consistently is what is costing them dearly.
Their best win of the year was back in Round 1 away to East Sunbury, and Chris Tankard will be hoping his side can re-capture that spark against the same opposition here.
The only problem is, the Thunder may now be in a vastly different headspace than they were in the early stages of the season.
Last week’s win over Burnside Heights may prove to be the big turning point of the 2019 season after sitting on the sidelines for four weeks straight due to a bye, Jacana’s withdrawal from the competition and the Queen’s Birthday break - a weekend East Sunbury has traditionally played on in the past, but opted out of this year.
That extended break could prove to be a huge blessing in disguise and if the likes of Kamen Ogilvie, Diquan Williams, Bryce Whelan, Tom Cree and Lucas Shaw can all continue to build on their individual form, then expect East Sunbury to climb the ladder and re-enter premiership calculations in the second half of the season.
The Thunder should be entering this game as the favourite.
HADFIELD v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
Keilor Park will be viewing this game as a chance to put together some of its best football of the year, but Hadfield will be keen to do the same.
The Hawks have done well to build up some good will this season, but at 2-6 (one of which was a Jacana forfeit), the wins have still been few and far between.
They came close at Moonee Valley last week, finding themselves within a couple kicks of the lead early in the final term at Ormond Park, but the Fog managed to kick clear late and win by 31 points.
There is no way Brett Pitts is going to let his side off the hook and in his eyes, the only acceptable outcome this weekend is a three-figure win.
Expect Zac Polizzi, Daniel Midolo and Heath McKerchar to load up in attack put together four consistent quarters of relentless footy.
In Round 1, the final margin between these sides was 171 points at Keilor Park.
Hadfield will be keen to better that on home turf this weekend.
