Mooroopna (7th) v Euroa (10th)
Euroa has won its past three games and beaten the Cats in each of their last three meetings. Earlier this year, only four points separated the teams when the Magpies broke a six-game losing streak to start the season with a surprise 63-59 win.
Cohen Paul didn’t play in that game, but he comes into this weekend’s match with 15 goals from his past three games after his team claimed victories in Rivalry Round clashes against Mansfield, Benalla and Seymour.
Mooroopna has won four of its past six games and lost the other two by a combined total of just 10 points. The Cats lost to the Bears by only two points and, despite not having kicked 100 points since a 70-point win against Tatura in Round 2, are, like Euroa, one of the competition’s form teams.
With the Betson brothers, Liam and Keelin, leading the charge, I expect the Cats to stay in finals contention by beating the Magpies. I have, however, written the Magpies off once recently and won’t be making that mistake again.
It would not surprise me if Lachie Hill had 40 touches, Jett Trotter had 25 and kicked two goals, and Paul kicked another bag to continue Euroa’s strong form.
That said, Mooroopna by 11 points.
In A-grade netball, this is the second-versus-third clash and, while neither team can lose its top-three ranking, the Cats will be aiming to improve on their 40-goal win from last week.
Euroa is the best-performing attacking team in the GVL, while the Cats’ defence of Dayna Williams and Caitlin McLachlan is rightly considered one of the premier defensive combinations in the league.
Mansfield (9th) v Kyabram (4th)
As mentioned earlier, there could be dire consequences for the Bombers if they lose this game and the teams below them, specifically Rochester and Mooroopna, win.
The Bombers would slip to sixth on the ladder if that occurred and be teetering on the edge of missing the finals as they attempt to defend their title. That said, they are coming off arguably their best win of the season against Echuca a fortnight ago.
The Bombers beat the Eagles by 100 points when they met in Round 7, with Charlie Barnett kicking five goals, Anthony Depasquale three and Riley Ironside three. Since then, Barnett has kicked only nine goals in eight games, while Depasquale has been playing regularly in the VFL for Werribee.
A case for a Mansfield win can be built given the Eagles, again depending on other results, could close the gap to the top six to just two premiership points with a victory.
If Shepp Swans beat Rochester, Euroa beat Mooroopna and the Eagles topple Kyabram, Mansfield would sit only two points behind the Bombers, Cats, Demons and Tigers with two rounds remaining.
If this scenario were to occur, just four premiership points would separate the fourth-ranked team from the ninth-ranked team.
Billy Hogan is key to the Eagles’ fortunes, returning to form with four goals in Round 15 after having kicked just six goals in the six games preceding the narrow loss to Seymour.
For mine, it’s Kyabram by 14 points.
Shepp Swans (8th) v Rochester (6th)
Without repeating the above, this match could see the Shepp Swans rise into the top six or the Tigers fall to ninth, depending on results elsewhere.
Rochester looks set to have Marty Hore, the former Melbourne AFL defender, in the team for the first time this year. He will train this week but appears fully recovered from his second ACL injury and ready to take the field.
The Tigers could also regain goalkicker Hugh Hamilton and spring-heeled Mitch Cricelli, who hasn’t played since Round 5 last year, depending on how they get through training this week.
Cricelli kicked five goals two weeks ago in a reserve-grade game and appears on track for a return to senior football.
The Shepp Swans are the hardest-tackling team in the competition. They are well organised by coach Linc Sullivan and, despite their current ranking, have consistently performed at a high level against teams around them on the ladder.
If James Auld can break free of Matt Kellett and the Swans can penetrate a defence that includes Ryan O’Keefe, Dylan Gordon and Hore, they may well be able to force their way back into the top four.
I think, though, the return of Hore and Hamilton, and maybe even Cricelli, will spark the Tigers’ continued charge and keep them inside the top six.
Tigers by 21 points.
Netball predictions
In the remaining netball games, I think Kyabram will challenge Mansfield for the first half, but with finals on the line the Eagles will be able to add a little percentage and win by 41 goals.
I also think the Tigers will challenge the Swans in netball, but, like Mansfield, there remains a faint hope of the Swans making finals, and that should inspire them to an 11-goal victory.
