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BUNYIP v KORUMBURRA-BENA
Where is it being played?: Bunyip Rec Reserve
What time is the seniors game scheduled to start?: 2:00pm
Selected sides:
MATCH PREVIEW
The Bulldogs welcome Korumburra Bena to town knowing a win would put them in a strong position.
However, with Koo Wee Rup also a firm favourite to win its clash with Warragul Industrials, the Yips will want to make sure its current percentage advantage isn’t relied on too heavily.
“We’re feeling pretty good,” Bunyip co-coach Aussie Jones said.
“We had a look at the fixture five or six weeks ago and our philosophy was just to keep winning and it should look after itself.
“(Going into the year) we thought we would be around the mark we are now and we feel our season has been too good to end at the home and away stage.”
The Bulldogs were sitting pretty ahead of last week’s game and would be all but assured of a finals place had they managed to beat Koo Wee Rup last weekend.
Defeat has thrown a spanner in the works and may necessitate the return of forward Brent Hues, who will need to convince Jones and co-coach Ricky Clark that the benefits of his inclusion outweighs the risks of re-aggravating his injury.
Jones admitted last week’s loss, coupled with as many as eight season-ending injuries – four in the past month alone, including in-form leading goal-kicker Cley Bertoncello – made calculations a touch trickier, but the club’s developing depth had come to the fore.
“From where we came from last year to even be in this position is exciting, the playing group has been sensational,” Jones said.
“I’m not an AFL coach but it’s a bit like when you hear them saying at that level, next one in, play your role. We’ve played a lot of kids and had guys come in and play out of position and they’ve done a good job for us.”
The Bulldogs have given a competition-high 39 players a senior game this season, but with the likes of bottom age fourths player Alex Dijkstra showing they can perform at that level, there have been positives to the excessive squad rotation.
WGFNC websiteDALYSTON v CORA LYNN
Where is it being played?: Dalyston Rec Reserve
What time is the seniors game scheduled to start?: 2:00pm
Selected sides:
MATCH PREVIEW
Cora Lynn will lock in 2nd place regardless of the result in their match against Dalyston.
The Cobras had a welcome return to form last week with a 113 point drubbing of the Dusties last week, while Dalyston were unable to make it back-to-back wins when they fell convincingly to Garfield.
The Magpies have struggled this year and it wouldn’t surprise many if Cora Lynn made short work of them.
Gippsland Footy adminGARFIELD v KILCUNDA-BASS
Where is it being played?: Garfield Rec Reserve
What time is the seniors game scheduled to start?: 2:00pm
Selected sides:
MATCH PREVIEW
Hayden Stanton’s men will look to go out with a bang when they take on last placed Kilcunda-Bass.
The Stars have had their chances to remain in the finals race but coming into the final round, Garfield will look to finish the year with a positive.
Kilcunda-Bass will be looking to do some of the same. If the Panthers can secure a sneaky win it may lift them off the bottom of the ladder – pending other results – and allow the boys from the Bass Coast another opportunity to sing the club song.
Gippsland Footy adminINVERLOCH-KONGWAK v TOORADIN-DALMORE
Where is it being played?: Inverloch Rec Reserve
What time is the seniors game scheduled to start?: 2:00pm
Selected sides:
MATCH PREVIEW
This game should provide onlookers with a great spectacle of two teams in form in a 3rd v 4th clash. Win, lose or draw Tooradin have secured third spot on the ladder, while Inverloch should have fourth sewn up regardless of the result as well.
The Seagulls will be buoyed by the fact that they almost came away victorious over Phillip Island last week, while the Sea Eagles have key players returning into the side at the right time of the year and are looking the strongest they have all year.
Gippsland Footy adminNAR NAR GOON v PHILLIP ISLAND
Where is it being played?: Nar Nar Goon Rec Reserve
What time is the seniors game scheduled to start?: 2:00pm
Selected sides:
MATCH PREVIEW
The Goon faces a tough task with a showdown against undefeated ladder leader Phillip Island.
Having seen his side on the wrong end of a 116-point hiding in round seven, Goon coach Dean Blake was well aware of the challenge at hand, but insisted no side was unbeatable.
“It’s one of those things that we’ve got ourselves in a position where you don’t want to be, you don’t want to be relying on other teams,” Blake said.
“It’s going to be tough but I’m pretty positive… the boys might play out of their skin this week and enjoy the challenge.
“(The Island) are a great side but whether they can go all the way through undefeated remains to be seen. They might think of it as a dead rubber, but they are the most professional team I’ve seen in this competition.
“Their midfielders kick a lot of goals so we’ll try to nullify their scoring power but at the same time they’ve got a lot of guys that can hurt you and you can’t focus on all of them.”
Nar Nar Goon hasn’t been helped by a spate of injuries to key personnel. This year’s captain Baz Hermann (collarbone), last year’s skipper Brent Hughes (ACL) and Sam Blackwood (hamstring) have all been ruled out for a quick return.
On the plus side, it may lead to West Gippy fans getting to see the head to head battle they have been waiting for, between ex-AFL teammates Lachy Hansen and Cameron Pedersen.
The pair were both on North Melbourne’s list for seasons 2011-12, playing 10 games together, before Pedersen was traded to Melbourne.
A favourite son of the Goon, Hansen returned to his boyhood club this season, while Pedersen and his family moved to the Island, eventually landing in the red, white and blue.
Pedersen has taken the competition by storm and looms as a red-hot favourite for the best and fairest award, while Hansen has had his moments in an up and down campaign.
The pair didn’t really cross paths much in the reverse fixture at the Kennel but with the Goon currently lacking some height, Hansen may take on more of the ruck duties, an area of the ground Pedersen has spent plenty of time throughout the season.
WGFNC websiteWARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v KOO WEE RUP
Where is it being played?: Western Park, Warragul
What time is the seniors game scheduled to start?: 2:00pm
Selected sides:
MATCH PREVIEW
The side with the most ground to make up is Koo Wee Rup, but coach Ben Collins believes his side will have well and truly earned their spot.
“We dropped a couple of games we shouldn’t have but we’ve had a tough draw and we’ve beaten Bunyip home and away and Inverloch at Inverloch,” Collins said.
“We’re relying on other teams either losing or not winning by too much so we’ll just do the best we can to win by a big margin and if we make it I would back us to go well in finals.”
Joel Gibson looks set to return for the do-or-die clash with the Dusties and the Demons boast one of the healthiest lists in the competition at this point in the year.
A percentage boost will most likely be required and with unfavourable weather forecast, scoring at Western Park may not be easy – expect the Demons to be ruthless at both ends in their pursuit of finals football.
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Bunyip v Korumburra-Bena, Nar Nar Goon v Phillip Island and Warragul Industrials v Koo Wee Rup match previews published by WGFNC website. To view original article in full online click here.
All other match previews written by Gippsland Footy admin.