Rokewood-Corindhap v Buninyong
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at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Buninyong 7.14 (56) d Rokewood-Corindhap 6.11 (47), round 7, 2017
There might be a little extra feeling in this contest given the off-field battle Rokewood-Corinhap and Buninyong have endured in recent times.
Star Grasshoppers player Caius Barrenger has spent the past few months trying to be cleared to the Bombers, but has been unsuccessful in his transfer requests.
Rokewood-Corindhap has held Barrenger to a contract he signed for the 2018 season.
Buninyong took the matter to an AFL Victoria appeal panel, which ruled in favour of the Grasshoppers.
The Bombers will be keen to bounce back to winning ways this weekend after suffering a disappointing defeat at the hands of Waubra before the AFL Victoria Community Championships break.
Ruckman Liam Rigby is set for a stint on the sidelines due to a nagging osteitis pubis issue, paving the way for fellow big man Anthony Ebery to make his return to the senior team.
Coach Jarrod Morgan and winger Jarrod Rodgers both sat out the interleague clash with respective calf and hamstring injuries, but both have been named to play for the Bombers this Saturday. Key forward Jake Dunne is being managed and will miss on Saturday.
In some good news for the Grasshoppers, gun onballer Sam Chapman has been selected to return after being sidelined for the team’s round six loss to Gordon.
Prediction: Buninyong
Skipton v Gordon
at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Gordon 37.25 (247) d Skipton 6.11 (47), round 7, 2017
Gordon defender Mark Gunnell will miss the battle with Skipton this weekend after being handed a one-match suspension by the tribunal.
Gunnell was reported and shown a yellow card during the third quarter of Saturday’s AFL Victoria Community Championships clash with Riddell District.
The Central Highlands captain decided to challenge the careless striking charge, but was unsuccessful on Wednesday night.
As a result, he will be forced to watch his side from the sidelines.
Gunnell’s brother Luke has been named to return from injury, while important defender Adam Toohey is back from travel and bolsters a side that will be without Mick Nolan. The small forward has been left out following his appearance for the CHFL last Saturday.
Gordon is chasing back-to-back wins for the first time this season after beating Rokewood-Corindhap before the interleague break.
The Eagles will come up against a more competitive Skipton outfit than the one that they beat in this fixture last year.
On that occasion, the Emus were thrashed by 200 points.
Skipton will host Gordon on the back of an extremely disappointing display against Bungaree that saw it kick just two goals in a 99-point defeat.
That has left the Emus in 12th spot on the ladder.
Prediction: Gordon
Springbank v Beaufort
at Wallace, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Beaufort 17.15 (117) d Springbank 6.8 (44), preliminary final, 2017
Springbank will welcome back key players from injury for Saturday’s showdown with Beaufort.
Chris Graham and Michael Searl are among the inclusions for the GJ Gardner Tigers, as are defenders Marty Anderson and Justin Simpson.
Graham is set to make his first appearance since mid-April after suffering concussion in the team’s win over Ballan.
The onballer is understood to have been very unwell after the match against the Blues, which also saw Simpson sustain an ankle problem.
Searl and Anderson have both missed since the April 28 clash with Clunes with respective knee and ankle injuries.
Mid-season recruit Thomas Henry made his debut for the club against Dunnstown before the interleague break, but is out unavailable for this Saturday’s clash.
Henry signed from St Mary’s in the Geelong Football League and looms as a good key position pick-up for the Tigers.
Beaufort will likely take on Springbank with the services of defender Lee Marshall and ruckman Josh McDermott. Marshall has been battling a hamstring strain while McDermott was unavailable for the side’s last game.
Saturday’s clash at Wallace is a replay of last year’s preliminary final, which the Crows won easily by 73 points.
Prediction: Beaufort
Clunes v Newlyn
at Clunes, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Newlyn 8.9 (57) d Clunes 7.5 (47), round 7, 2017
Clunes: The Magpies remain winless and it doesn't look like that will change this weekend.
The clash with Daylesford the following Saturday appears a more realistic chance for coach Johno Leoncini and his men to land the points.
Newlyn: Cats joint-coach Dan Wehrung is right to go this Saturday after sitting out the interleague match due to concussion sustained in the round six win over Carngham-Linton.
However, star onballer Steve Clifton is expected to sit out another game after missing against the Saints.
Prediction: Newlyn
Creswick v Bungaree
at Creswick, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Bungaree 13.13 (91) d Creswick 6.9 (45), round 7, 2017
Creswick: Ricky Cummins looks like missing the clash against old side Bungaree due to injury.
Creswick coach Ryan Knowles said Cummins had been battling a hip injury sustained in the win over Daylesford in round six and wouldn't play against the Demons.
Bungaree: Key forward Cameron Jackson and onballer Chase Morgan are the significant inclusions for the Demons' trip to Creswick.
Jackson hasn't played since April 21 due to an ankle injury, while Morgan has been unavailable and last played on April 28.
Prediction: Bungaree
Hepburn v Dunnstown
at Hepburn, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Hepburn 11.14 (80) d Dunnstown 9.6 (60), round 7, 2017
Hepburn: Champion onballer Andy McKay looks likely to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since the team's loss to Gordon in round four.
And despite looking sore at the end of the interleague clash on Saturday, forward Jimmy Rodgers looks right to go against the Towners.
Dunnstown: Ruckman Rylan Rattley is out for the Towners' big trip to Hepburn due to a broken thumb.
But the side gets back a host of top players, including skipper Angus Thompson, tall Aaron Brennan and classy forward Harry McKimmie.
Prediction: Hepburn.
Carngham-Linton v Daylesford
at Linton, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Daylesford 19.14 (128) d Carngham-Linton 9.12 (66), round 7, 2017
Carngham-Linton: Defender Tim Clarke is an important in for the Saints, which will see this as a good opportunity to claim their second win of 2018.
The side is coming off a 65-point loss to Newlyn, which has left coach Matt Beaston and his men in 13th spot on the ladder.
Daylesford: Star midfielder Joel Cowan looms as a chance to return to the side from an ankle injury that has kept him out since the April 28 clash with Rokewood-Corindhap.
Forward Dylan Muscat is another good inclusion for the Bulldogs, which are yet to record a win in season 2018.
Prediction: Daylesford
Waubra v Ballan
at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm
Last time: Waubra 20.10 (130) d Ballan 3.8 (26), round 7, 2017
Waubra: The Roos are likely to be without onballer Glen Coleman for the rest of the year following news he will undergo a shoulder reconstruction due to an injury sustained in the round six win over Buninyong.
Important forward Jarred Crabtree hurt his calf in the interleague clash at the weekend and looks unlikely to feature against the Blues.
Ballan: Ruckman Patrick Graham has been named to return to the Ballan team that remains winless and on the bottom of the ladder.
Graham was absent in round six for a game that saw the Blues lose to reigning premiers Hepburn.
Prediction: Waubra