Daylesford v Gordon
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
at Daylesford, Sunday, 2.30pm
Last time: Gordon 13.10 (88) d Daylesford 9.13 (67), semi final, 2016
Gordon has lost some key firepower for its blockbuster Sunday fixture against Daylesford.
Eagles coach Gary Learmonth said Jye Cousins (concussion), Luke Gunnell (concussion) and Brad Hallam (unavailable) would all be missing from the team that travels to Victoria Park.
A hand injury to goal-kicker Steve Nicholson was thought to be serious, but he has been cleared to play this weekend, while defenders Adam Toohey and Cobie Davis return for the Eagles after missing the win over Newlyn last Saturday.
Gordon sits fifth on the Central Highlands Football League ladder after a run of seven-straight victories, but now faces a run of tough games before finals.
To be held as the WorkSafe Game of the Month, the fixture will include guest appearances from Carlton coach of the century David Parkin, AFL games record holder Brent Harvey and all-time netball great Sharelle McMahon.
Daylesford remains eighth following last weekend’s loss to Bungaree and is a game clear of ninth-placed Learmonth.
It is understood versatile onballer Ken Cummings, a past premiership player with Hepburn, has walked away from the club after last weekend’s loss to the Demons.
Defender Toby Hughes suffered concussion in that match and is another set to miss against Gordon.
Prediction: Gordon
Bungaree v Springbank
at Bungaree, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Springbank 10.12 (72) d Bungaree 9.9 (63), qualifying final, 2016
Springbank has brought back some of its top-end talent for the highly-anticipated battle with Bungaree.
The Tigers’ overseas contingent will be back in time for the clash, with Mitch Couch and Justin Simpson slotting into the side that got home in a struggle over Rokewood-Corindhap last weekend.
Mitch Keighrey was one of the senior players on holiday, but he has ruled himself out with a foot injury.
Spearhead Tom Eltringham was overseas during the middle part of the year and returned to the line-up against the Grasshoppers.
Key backman Matt Tyler has missed the past couple of fixtures because of a hamstring injury, but is an inclusion alongside fellow backman Ben Beasley, who was unavailable last round.
Springbank coach Michael Searl said classy onballer Tyler George was in doubt for this game after missing the win over the Grasshoppers with a foot issue, but he has been named to play alongside Jaaron Mahar, who rounds out the inclusions.
The Tigers are on top of the ladder, but could slip to fourth with defeat on Saturday.
Bungaree currently holds that position on the table after beating Daylesford at the weekend.
The Demons have named an unchanged line-up to the one that beat the Bulldogs as they go in search of a ninth-straight triumph.
Prediction: Springbank
Learmonth v Ballan
at Learmonth, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Ballan 7.11 (53) d Learmonth 8.2 (50), round 5, 2016
Learmonth will celebrate Pat McGuigan’s 200th game for the club during an important battle with Ballan on Saturday.
McGuigan has been a loyal servant for the Lakies since joining the club from Gordon, where he played his junior football.
The clever small forward/midfielder won Learmonth’s senior best and fairest in 2010 and gets to run out for the milestone game on his home turf.
Learmonth is ninth on the Central Highlands Football League ladder, but could find itself once again inside the top eight with victory against Ballan.
The Lakies are just a game behind the eighth-placed Daylesford, but holds a superior percentage. The Bulldogs have a difficult clash against Gordon this weekend.
There is three important inclusions into the Learmonth team for the game against the Blues, with defender Nick Martin, onballer Matt Jackson and forward Brodrick Campbell all set to return to the side that lost to Buninyong by more than 100 points last Saturday.
Ballan hits this clash following a bye and gets back Jack Connor, who will assist Dan Christie with the ruck duties.
Of the other ins, Sam Sher returns to bolster the midfield and forward options, while backman Jake Wilkinson is unavailable.
The Blues are currently 10th on the ladder.
Prediction: Learmonth
Clunes v Beaufort
at Clunes, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Beaufort 27.15 (177) d Clunes 4.6 (30), round 16, 2016
Clunes: The Magpies were handed one of their more disappointing defeats of the season on Saturday, thrashed at the hands of Dunnstown by 137 points.
And this is the first in a run of three tough games before a final-round encounter with Rokewood-Corindhap.
Beaufort: The Crows are set to be without Jayden Orr and Zane Thompson for the trip to Clunes because of injury.
Beaufort coach Rohan Brown said both Orr and Thompson rolled ankles in last round's win over Carngham-Linton, which leaves the team in second spot on the ladder.
Prediction: Beaufort
Creswick v Waubra
at Creswick, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Waubra 19.14 (128) d Creswick 7.10 (52), round 8, 2016
Creswick: The Wickers have strung together some competitive performances in recent weeks, but it hasn't been enough to get the points against some of the powerhouses of the competition.
Creswick was beaten by 50 points at the hands of Beaufort in round 12 before a 30-point loss to Hepburn last weekend.
Waubra: Clever winger/forward Paul Dodds returns to the Roos' line-up for the trip to Creswick.
Dodds missed the team's thrashing of Skipton last weekend, which leaves it seventh on the ladder and two games clear inside the top eight.
Prediction: Waubra
Newlyn v Buninyong
at Newlyn, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Buninyong 25.17 (167) d Newlyn 4.7 (31), round 4, 2016
Newlyn: The Cats are crawling their way to the finish line and this looks like another tough game for a side battling to match the better teams in the competition.
But after Buninyong this weekend comes a couple of winnable matches against Ballan and Dunnstown before a round 17 clash with Beaufort.
Buninyong: The Bombers continue their surge towards a spot in the top four this weekend and get back key players Jarrod Rodgers and Daniel Pelchen.
Rodgers has missed some time with a hamstring injury, while Pelchen has been unavailable due to his commitments at AFL level with Collingwood.
Prediction: Buninyong
Skipton v Rokewood-Corindhap
at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Rokewood-Corindhap 12.21 (93) d Skipton 8.10 (58), round 1, 2016
Skipton: It has been a tough season for the Emus, but back-to-back thumpings in excess of 200 points won't have been easy for the senior side to take.
This clash with Rokewood-Corindhap comes before a showdown with top side Springbank and battles with Creswick and Carngham-Linton to close out a forgettable campaign.
Rokewood-Corindhap: Caius Barrenger has been named to make his long-awaited return to the Grasshoppers' senior side.
Barrenger ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the pre-season, but is set to play in what looks a good chance for the team to collect its second victory of 2017.
Prediction: Rokewood-Corindhap
Carngham-Linton v Hepburn
at Snake Valley, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Hepburn 33.15 (213) d Carngham-Linton 4.6 (30), round 8, 2016
Carngham-Linton: The Saints can start to plan for the future with news coming mid-week that Matt Beaston has been signed for another two seasons as senior coach.
His team looks outclassed this weekend, but will be eyeing off round 16 and 17 games against Rokewood-Corindhap and Skipton.
Hepburn: The three Rodgers boys are set to play senior football together for the first time this weekend, with Hayden and Nathan getting the call-up to run out alongside older brother Jimmy.
Nathan's appearance will be his first at senior level.
Prediction: Hepburn