Buninyong v Hepburn
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
at Buninyong, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Buninyong 11.15 (81) d Hepburn 8.8 (56), round 13, 2015
HEPBURN coach Jason Olver admits he is concerned with his team’s form heading into the blockbuster clash against Buninyong on Saturday.
The Burras were booted from the top four after an 18-point defeat against Beaufort last weekend, seven days after sneaking home against Dunnstown.
Olver said the team played “as bad as we possibly could” against the Crows and admitted it hasn’t really clicked this season.
Saturday’s clash with Buninyong will see the return of dual premiership player Jarrod James, who has been named for his second senior game at the club since 2011.
Olver said James, who returned from interstate this year and played in the win over the Towners, helped change the dynamics of an otherwise short onball brigade.
“He’s a bloody good footballer. A hard-running, tough midfielder,” he said.
After passing another big test against Gordon last weekend, Buninyong remains top of the ladder heading into a game against a club joint-coach Jarrod Morgan believes is one of the Bombers’ biggest rivals of recent years.
“They always fire up against us and it’s a pretty willing game,” Morgan said.
At the selection table on Thursday night, the Bombers named star player Sam Turner to return from an extended lay-off due to concussion.
Prediction: Buninyong
Smythesdale v Ballan
at Linton, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Ballan 20.18 (138) d Smythesdale 0.4 (4), round 13, 2015
BALLAN coach Justin McConnell is pleased his side has fate in its own hands.
The Blues climbed back into the Central Highlands Football League top eight with victory over Rokewood-Corindhap on Saturday and can stay there by winning the remaining five games of the home and away campaign.
They’ll have little trouble against Smythesdale this weekend, before big matches against Dunnstown, Beaufort, Buninyong and Hepburn.
“We’re in a lucky position where our destiny is in our own hands. If we keep winning, we'll stay where we are,” McConnell said.
The Blues are four points clear of the Towners, Daylesford and Creswick, which are just outside the eight.
McConnell said key forward Chris Povey would miss this game because of a corked calf, while the important Zac Peoples remains sidelined with an ongoing knee issue.
Smythesdale is fronting from a heavy loss at the hands of Bungaree and the team will have one eye on the clash with strugglers Clunes in round 14. Bulldogs coach Stephen Frys admitted that the game against the Magpies had been a talking point around the club.
Frys said his assistant Ash Carli is likely to miss on Saturday with a calf injury, while defender Brad Dunbar is expected to return to the side.
Prediction: Ballan
Waubra v Daylesford
at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Waubra 14.12 (96) d Daylesford 7.7 (49), round 13, 2015
WAUBRA and Daylesford are battling different wars in the latter part of the home and away season, but both sit on a knife’s edge.
The Roos are looking to bed down a top four berth and double chance in the playoffs, while the Bulldogs are hoping to secure their return to finals.
Waubra climbed into the top four for the first time since round six with Saturday’s victory over Learmonth, but has plenty of pressure on from teams around it.
Daylesford, meanwhile, is 10th, but just four points behind eighth-placed Ballan, with a relatively good draw to come. After this weekend, the Bulldogs meet battlers Carngham-Linton, Rokewood-Corindhap and Smythesdale before a round 17 clash against Dunnstown.
Bulldogs coach Marcus Goonan believes his side’s finals chances are strong.
“We win this weekend and we make it. I can’t see us falling out if we won this weekend,” he said.
Waubra coach Grant Luscombe said his team was in a good place to secure a top four berth.
“We haven’t had may changes the last few weeks and we’ve been able to get some consistent footy together and I think that’s the key at the moment,” he said.
Veteran defender Stuart Oliver is out for this game after hurting his shoulder against the Lakies.
Prediction: Waubra
Beaufort v Creswick
at Beaufort, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Beaufort 11.6 (72) d Creswick 5.8 (38), round 13, 2015
Beaufort (7th): The Crows snapped their three-match losing streak with an 18-point win over Hepburn last weekend and can start to build some momentum here. Upcoming games against Bungaree and Ballan are part of this difficult stretch for the Beaufort boys.
Creswick (11th): Out of nowhere, the Wickers are just four points outside the finals bracket. Last weekend's upset win over Dunnstown leaves Creswick 11th on the ladder, but a tough run to finals means climbing further up the table will be hard.
Prediction: Beaufort
Dunnstown v Bungaree
at Dunnstown, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Bungaree 15.14 (104) d Dunnstown 4.6 (30), round 13, 2015
Dunnstown (9th): The Towners are becoming somewhat of an enigma this season, with inconsistent performances making the side's real standing in the league difficult to read. Dunnstown's upset loss to Creswick last weekend has seen the side topple from the top eight.
Bungaree (3rd): The Demons are set to welcome back star players Luke Mirtschin, Shaun Finlayson, Christian Elliott, Marty Dufty, Jason Linke, Luke Mangan and Matthew Sheridan on Saturday. However, the season appears over for youngster Sam Mewett, who suffered bad internal injuries in last weekend's win over Smythesdale.
Prediction: Bungaree
Newlyn v Gordon
at Newlyn, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Gordon 17.17 (119) d Newlyn 6.5 (41), round 13, 2015
Newlyn (12th): The Cats have struggled against many of the better teams in the competition and this shapes as another difficult day. The team hosts Gordon on the back of a comfortable defeat at the hands of Springbank last weekend.
Gordon (6th): Winless from their last two games, the Eagles have named defender Matthew Raworth and midfielder Ben Peters to return from respective foot and calf injuries, while key duo Luke Gunnell (leg) and Jye Cousins (concussion) are set to miss this weekend.
Prediction: Gordon
Rokewood-Corindhap v Clunes
at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Clunes 10.8 (68) d R-C 7.10 (52), round 13, 2015
Rokewood-Corindhap (14th): The Grasshoppers get back defender Jonty Wall as the club looks to land its first senior victory since early May. Rokewood-Corindhap has not won since beating Smythesdale in round five, but start favourites this weekend.
Clunes (17th): The Magpies are finally on the board for 2016 and can take an element of confidence into a game against the struggling Grasshoppers. The Magpies beat Carngham-Linton last weekend to record their first win since late in the 2015 season.
Prediction: Rokewood-Corindhap
Skipton v Springbank
at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Springbank 22.9 (141) d Skipton 5.5 (35), round 13, 2015
Skipton (16th): The Emus are unlikely to trouble the reigning premiers, but will be setting their sights on the round 17 battle with rivals Carngham-Linton, which looks their last realistic chance of victory for the year.
Springbank (2nd): Joint-coach Nick Couch is back from a knee issue for the clash with Skipton, however, dangerous onballer/forward Billy Driscoll is set to miss through illness. The Tigers are also set to welcome back premiership ruckman Brock Freeman for his first senior game of 2016.
Prediction: Springbank
Carngham-Linton v Learmonth
at Snake Valley, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Learmonth 18.13 (121) d C-L 11.4 (70), round 13, 2015
Carngham-Linton: The Saints have probably blown their last chance for success this season, dropping the game against Clunes last weekend. With tougher matches in the run home, the team is likely to finish winless in 2016.
Learmonth: It has been a frustrating campaign for the Lakies, but the side is now set to collect a few wins with a run of favourable fixtures in the coming weeks against Carngham-Linton, Rokewood-Corindhap and Smythesdale.
Prediction: Learmonth