FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND
Newborough will be hoping they can defy the odds and inflict Trafalgar’s first loss of the season this weekend when the sides meet in round six action.
The Bloods have defeated all before them to remain unbeaten on top of the Mid Gippsland league ladder.
Trafalgar are a solid unit all over the field with a really impressive team structure and a game plan that is well understood.
The list is littered with experience, emerging talent and a multitude of options up forward like Rhys Holdsworth, Matt Van Schajiik, Tyson Leys, Brayde Bossman and Ben Doran.
For Newborough, Jared Risol is as good as it gets in this league and Michael Gelagotis is reliable in front of goals.
Newborough remains a rough diamond and have shown patches of being able to mix it with the best but they have switched off for periods during the game and fallen short more times than they would have liked.
Thorpdale v Yarragon
The Blues are struggling with injuries in the early stages of season 2018 and will host Yarragon this weekend.
Misfired shots on goal by Yinnar kept Thorpdale in the game last week but losing two games in a row is a no-go for good sides.
Yarragon have been a hard team to follow.
A promising game against the unbeaten Trafalgar was followed by a disappointing match with Mirboo North.
If the Panthers can have their midfield up and firing like it was a fortnight ago they might just edge closer to the home side.
Mirboo North v Boolarra
Defending premiers Mirboo North face Boolarra this weekend in a clear mismatch.
The Tigers were looking down the barrel of five losses in a row when they took on Yarragon last week but stood up under mounting pressure and claimed the points in impressive fashion.
After suffering losses of three points and one point in previous weeks, Mirboo North have proven to a few that they are still good enough to march up the Mid Gippsland league ladder.
Boolarra will be hoping to stay in touch for as long as possible and having some more experienced players back into the side may well help their cause.
The Demons are hoping they can steal a win or even two during this season before planning further improvement in 2019.
Morwell East v YYN
Morwell East have snapped victory from the jaws of defeat in recent weeks after stealing a win from Newborough before topping that with a massive come-from-behind win over Hill End.
That truly remarkable performance doesn’t look like being repeated this week against one of the in-form sides of the competition.
Yallourn/Yallourn North did what they had to last week but the Bombers are looking for a challenge to bring out their best.
Nick Campbell has been in good form for Morwell East in front of goals but Dean McDonald has been in even better form for Yallourn/Yallourn North.
Hill End v Yinnar
Hill End coach Mike Santo is still scratching his head wondering how his side lost last week’s match to Morwell East with what seemed to be a winning margin eaten away all too quickly.
How the Rovers respond to the loss will speak volumes about the playing group, especially against an experienced team like Yinnar.
The Magpies are not at their best and if ever they were ripe for taking it would be now.
But with some healthy depth they remain strong around the ground with accurate goal kicking probably their biggest concern.
