North Gippsland FNL Round 15 preview

Even though the thermometer might suggest otherwise things are really starting to heat up in the run to the NGFNL finals. With six sides still in finals contention and not a single spot in the top five locked away the last month of home and away footy promises to be nothing short of outstanding. Two crucial clashes highlight this week’s round 15 action with four of the top six sides battling it out in matches that could not only determine who finishes where inside the top five but who will be watching on when the finals roll around.

MATCH PREVIEW

Top of the table Churchill welcome third placed Rosedale to town this week in a match that means plenty for both sides. A loss for the home side will have them likely drop top spot to Yarram who have a superior percentage and are all but certain to take the points over Gormandale in their game. On the other hand a loss for Rosedale would have them, temporarily at least, forgo the top three spot they looked to have locked away just a fortnight ago.

Rosedale have relied heavily on their twin towers, Brandon McDonald and Frazar Brouns, to kick them a winning score so far this season. The good news for the home team is that they have multiple options to stop the dynamic duo who have registered 73 goals between them so far this season. Any of Kurt Holt, Dean DeGroot, Jarrad Broadbent or perhaps even a recalled Kyle Hearn- on paper at least- seem good match ups for the Rosedale forwards. Indeed Rosedale coach Sam Bristow acknowledged the Cougars “very tight defensive unit” as one of the things that made this week’s opponent “a very good team.”

Churchill coach Chris Williams said that even though his side sits atop the ladder he is “not happy with the way we are playing at the moment.” One of the areas he was keen to improve was mid field defensive pressure. That aspect of the game he said would be crucial this week to ensure “Rosedale’s dangerous forward line are not getting spoon fed” goal scoring opportunities.

Williams went on to say that Churchill would also need to focus on their forward 50 entry with Rosedale coach Bristow able to turn defence into attack from half back with his intercept marking and excellent ball use.

Assuming the Cougars can bypass Bristow the home side have anywhere up to five players capable of kicking a bag. The Rosedale match committee will have undoubtedly been throwing the magnets around the whiteboard at selection trying to work out who is best suited to pick up the likes of Brendan Holt, Ben Kearns, Blake Slater and Williams himself who has hit the scoreboard more regularly this season than in the past. Bristow was particularly wary of Kearns stating that “on his day he can do anything.”

MATCH PREVIEW

After missing the finals last year for the first time in half a dozen years Heyfield appointed Rick Galea to the senior coaching role for season 2019. Galea made it abundantly clear to all and sundry upon his arrival that not only does he expect the Roos to return to the post season this year he expects them to be participating for several weeks.

Galea acknowledged that the Roos run home is tough with them taking on Cowwarr, Yarram and Rosedale after clashing with Sale City this week. The upside he noted however was that they have their destiny in their own hands. As Galea said “for us finals start this week, we can set our sights on top three or we could drop this game and we could be looking at finishing sixth.”

The Roos hopes of grabbing the all-important four points this week will be enhanced with the coach hinting that he is likely to be able to call upon several players for Saturdays match that have recovered from injury. He will be hoping those key “ins” can match the return of Nick Woodland who Galea said played a great match in his return game last week.

In terms of this week’s opposition Galea indicated that the Roos would not be getting beaten by what we all know; that being the need to put the slows City’s Nick Grainger and Bohdi Walker in front of goal. Walker in particular looks to be in red hot form with the big unit helping himself to a bag of 11 majors last week. Galea also suggested stopping the run and carry of the Bulldog’s Ben Chivers across the half back line would be crucial in getting the result for the home side.

MATCH PREVIEW

Coming off their season defining win over fellow top three aspirant Rosedale last week Traralgon Tyers United will be keen to keep their momentum going this week when they take on Glengarry. To say these two sides are coming off a different preparation would be the mother of all understatements.

TTU battered down the door between themselves and a spot in the top three when they led all day in their nine point win over Rosedale. Glengarry on the other hand were given a footballing lesson by Yarram. The only solace the Pies can take from their loss is that they matched it with Yarram in the last quarter with both sides adding four goals, two behinds to their scores. The problem though for Glen was that they trailed by a staggering 174 points as the last quarter started.

MATCH PREVIEW

When these sides last met the local major league had the bye allowing Woodside to pull off a “recruiting” masterstroke. The Wildcats cleared several former players who had opted to test themselves at the higher level in season 2019 back to the club for the day. Their appearance in the blue and white hoops was instrumental in securing the Wildcats win number two for the year.

That result also effectively put to bed any hopes Cowwarr might have had of sneaking into the top five. I suspect if the talent gap between the two lists this Saturday wasn’t enough to ensure a Warr victory the added motivation they have to set the record straight would probably get them over the line anyhow.

MATCH PREVIEW

The league’s highest scoring side, coming off a 174 point win, take on the league’s lowest scoring side, coming off a 206 point loss when Yarram welcome Gormandale to town Saturday. With the AFL now rotating boundary umpires mid game due to fatigue the NGFNL may need to consider the same for goal umpires and scoreboard attendants during this game. The only positive for Gormy might be that with finals looming Yarram coach Matt Scholz may take the chance to rest a few senior payers to have them spot on for the post season.