GORMANDALE’S outside chances of upsetting Heyfield have been bolstered by the inclusion of former Fremantle and Collingwood 155 gamer Brodie Holland, who will pull on the Tigers guernsey this weekend.
The Tigers have secured the services of Holland for a one off North Gippsland appearance which will coincide with the club’s Hall of Fame celebrations. Coach Luke Henderson hopes the star inclusion will inspire his side to cause another upset in front of a large home crowd.
“It’s really exciting to be able to announce that Brodie will be playing for us,” Henderson said.
“He played 155 games at the elite level for Fremantle and Collingwood kicking 141 goals.
“The added dimension of his inclusion and leadership skills will bring a lot to the table, and something that the guys can draw from in what will be a big clash.
“He is a midfield forward player, so he will be thrown into the centre with the likes of our captain Luke Heggarty, Daniel Domaille, Brendan Solomon, Jack Wyhoon and Joe Colaciello and we hope like he did last week playing for Poowong, that he will again be among the disposals; he picked up 40 touches and kicked two goals.”
Turning an 87-point round one loss to Traralgon Tyers United into a four goal loss second time around, Henderson said his side would take confidence from its continued improvement.
“We can mention all the clich s, but it is all about the little things; our pressure last week was great, the scoreboard has shown that we are there about but there are passages of play each week that opens up the game and allows the other side in,” Henderson said.
“Having an inclusion like Brodie with his skill and knowledge of the game will give us an opportunity to continue to improve and allow us to push Heyfield as we did in round two.”
Boasting a 6-4 win-loss record Heyfield will be out to keep its finals pulse beating with a gutsy win required against the Tigers.
Churchill v Cowwarr
TWO narrow wins by a one point margin has seen Churchill tiptoe into the top five. With clashes against Sale City and TTU fast approaching, the Cougars will be looking for a solid four-quarter effort against Cowwarr.
Returning to the winners’ list at the weekend, the Saints will be confident of matching Churchill given the final margin was less than four points in their previous meeting.
On that occasion Brad McBride was among the goals, with Pat Tainsh named best on ground.
For the Cougars Tim Darby booted a match high six majors with ruckman Andrew Brown dominating the hitout count.
On current form Churchill should win, but in a competitive contest.
Yarram v TTU
FOR the second time in a fortnight Yarram will feature in the match of the round when third meets fourth-placed Traralgon Tyers United.
The Demons suffered their first defeat of the season against the Bombers, a result Demons coach Anthony Pavey admitted still stung.
Yarram has dropped the points just twice since; by one point against Churchill and in round nine by less than three goals to the ladder leader Sale City.
The Bombers’ season has hummed along under new coach Jay Neagle, culminating in the prized scalp of Heyfield a fortnight ago for the first time in a quarter century at the Heyfield Recreation Reserve.
Little separated the Demons and Bombers in their earlier meeting, in a match which saw scores locked at 7.7 (49) at half-time.
The telling point came in the final term when the Bombers kept their legs and made the most of their chances in front of goals.
TTU’s small forwards have been prolific; Stephen Hawkins is the league’s leading goal scorer with 32 for the season, two in front of Yarram’s Corbin Sutherland, while teammates Brian Graham (26) and Chase Saunders (25) round out the top five.
Back-to-back league best and fairest in 2012-13, Graham is at his lethal best, but the Demons will benefit from the return of Louis Rodaughan. Jari McDonald should also be available with Gippsland Power having the week off.
Rosedale v Woodside
AIMING to bounce back from a loss to Sale City, Rosedale will host Woodside.
Meeting the Blues on the rebound is going to be a tough assignment for the young Wildcats who will need to be at their best to topple their more fancied and experienced opponent.
Glengarry v Sale City
WHILE Glengarry remains winless, Saturday’s result was the first time this season the Magpies have kept their losing margin to less than 20 points.
The Magpies produced their best quarter of the season in the final term when they outscored the Saints by 24 points, kicking 4.3 to 0.3.
They will need to produce more of the same when they meet ladder leaders Sale City, who well and truly had their measure in the opening half of the fixture winning by 27 goals.
