ROCHESTER V SHEPPARTON SWANS
This is a massive opportunity for both these teams to be able to get a win.
Rochester will be hoping to kick straight after only scoring 5 goals from a possible 25 shots on goal in its 13-point loss to Shepparton United.
Mitch Cricelli, Joseph Atley, Grant Fuller, Nate Rasmussen and Reid Gordon will be desperate to help the Tigers get off the bottom of the table.
Promising youngster Will Hamilton made his return from injury to play his first game last round, which would have given the Tigers a big boost in what has been a difficult period post the October floods.
Tom Preece, Max Clohesy, Zac Banch, James Auld and Isaiah Jones will be important for the Swans.
Others who will be important in this match-up will be ex-Kangaroos Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Horvat and Sam Wright coupled with the continued strong form from defender and 2014 premiership player Andrew Riordan.
Coach Jedd Wright will be hoping his team can dish up what they did in the last quarter in the win over Benalla where they kicked six goals to finish over the Saints.
If the Swans can defend and make goals hard to come by for the Tigers, then they walk away with the win for me.
Tip: Shepparton Swans.
MOOROOPNA V TATURA
Former Rodney Shire rivals will go head-to-head in what should be a good contest.
The Cats were impressive in their wins over Benalla and Mansfield, but fell short by one point against fellow top six aspirant Euroa.
Coach John Lamont knows that there is room for improvement for this team and he will look to the likes of Ben Hicks, Rory Huggard, Jack Hunt, Liam Betson and youngster, Nathan Basile to lead the way.
Lamont will be hoping to have Matt Deane and Nathan Drummond available for the match-up with the Dogs if they are cleared to return from injury.
Tatura needs to get back on the horse straight away and forget about the heartbreak of the loss to Shepparton.
The Dogs were in front when the final siren went only for Trent Herbert to break their hearts when he kicked a goal after the siren to snatch the four points away from them.
There is a lot to like about the Dogs this season.
And credit must go to coach Paul Barnard and the group for that.
Harley McCarthy, Comanche Walls, Ethan Penrith, Andrew Ciavarella and Chris Ryan will be important if the Dogs are to cause an upset.
Tip: Mooroopna.
ECHUCA V MANSFIELD
Mansfield faces one of the longest trips in football to try and get its season back on track.
The Eagles have struggled to re-capture the form that saw them finish second in the home and away in 2022 and make the preliminary final.
Coach Chad Owens will be under no illusion of how tough it will be for his Eagles up against the reigning premier who is on the rebound after its first loss of 2023 at Kings Park last round.
Jackson Stewart, Cooper Willoughby, Jack Mchale, Matthew Lias, Mitchell Wales and Sam Reid will be keen to lead the way for the Murray Bombers while the visitors will look to Lachie Christopher, Dirk Koenen, Tom Dunstan, Jack Tomanovits, Jack Hutchins and Cam Arnold to try and come away from the Port of the Murray with the win.
Tip: Echuca.
