SCOTT BERECHREE
FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By SCOTT BERECHREE
ROUND 3 of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League sees match-of-the-round headlined by Woodside taking on Yarram at the home of the Wildcats.
After taking all before them in season 2021 Woodside has started their 2022 campaign with back-to-back wins over Heyfield and Rosedale.
Coach Michael Duncan still has a few aces up his sleeve when it comes to personnel as well so much interest will centre on his team sheet this week. The coach himself is one of several players yet to grace the playing surface this year.
Yarram has opened their season with a win and a loss having beaten Traralgon Tyers United at Tyers in Round 1 before going down in their Good Friday clash to premiership favourite Yallourn Yallourn North.
Justin Staley, Yarram’s coach, hasn’t yet been able to name his best side either but you get the feeling players from both clubs will be keen to make themselves available for the local derby.
The availability of Jayden Shea will be critical to Yarram’s hopes as his hardness and quality through the middle was noticeably missing in their loss to YYN. Shea’s absence meant Griffin Underwood had to vacate his role across half-back last week which seemed to throw out the balance in the Demon back six. Liam Bentley, who was fantastic in taking multiple intercept marks in Yarram’s Round 1 victory, was forced to play a much more defensive role last week which is something you can guarantee Woodside’s brains trust will have noted.
Despite Dan Vardy’s dominance in the ruck Yarram was soundly beaten in centre clearances against YYN. This is one area the Demons will look to tidy up and take advantage of in this week’s battle.
Without seeing the team sheets it is almost impossible to tip as the ongoing availability of Corbin Sutherland, who kicked three majors in Round 2 for Yarram, is up in the air and whether or not Shea takes to the park this week could sway a selection one way or another.
SALE City, who started their season with a resounding away win over Heyfield last week, welcome 0-2 Rosedale to town this week in what is a must win game for the visiting side.
Having played YYN and Woodside to commence their season Rosedale come up against a Bulldogs side that rammed home six last quarter goals to come from behind and roll Heyfield last week.
While much was spoken about those not on the park for the tri-colours this year, as they proved in their season opener last week, sides that under estimate the Bulldogs this year will do so at their own peril. With names like Ben Chivers, Troy Carstairs and Bohdi Walker remaining from their halcyon days an influx of new talent and younger players has freshened up the list.
For Rosedale it will be a question on capitalising on their forward 50 entries if they are to avoid slipping to 0-3.
Coaches of both sides that have beaten Rosedale this year have noted their competiveness around the ground and their ability to transition the ball well.
The other constant, however, has been their inability to find an avenue to goal. In their two matches to date the Blues have managed only one multiple goal scorer, Sam Bristow, who kicked a pair in last week’s match.
LIKE the rest of those who follow the NGFNL this writer is keen to see if the real Gormandale is the Round 1 version that beat Cowwarr or the Round 2 version that was taken to the cleaners by Churchill.
The inclusion of a couple of permit players in Round 1 is surely not with a near 40-goal turnaround in fortunes. It is time for the real Gormandale to announce themselves, and there is no better time than this week when they travel to Tyers to take on TTU.
TTU, who took care of Glengarry to the tune of 10 goals last week, will be keen to continue on their winning ways regardless of which Gormandale side turns up.
With perhaps only ill-discipline standing between the Bombers being 2-0 after several free kicks and 50 metre penalties cost them a wining chance against Yarram in Round 1 you’d expect TTU to get the win. The margin however will tell us plenty in this game – about both sides.
GLENGARRY’S 2022 gets no easier with the Magpies making the trip to YYN for their twilight clash. Having gone down to Churchill by 11 goals in Round 1 and to TTU by an even 10 goals things might get even grimmer for them this week.
YYN has three weapons all capable of kicking a bag of goals in Dean MacDonald, Keenan Hughes and Mitchell Luck. If any or all of them get off the chain this week, the first two weeks’ margins might be added together come the final siren.
TALKING of things not getting any easier, Cowwarr, coming off a Round 1 loss to Gormandale, make the trip to Churchill this week – the very same Churchill who took care of Gormandale by around 40 goals last week. And the Cougars did this with just 20 players and with several of their best side looking on.
HEYFIELD has the bye this week.
