ROUND 5/SENIOR REP PREVIEW
SENIOR’S
AFL South Coast v AFL Sapphire Coast (Hanging Rock Sports Complex,
Batemans Bay) 2:00pm
DEVELOPMENT
Tathra v Narooma (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 11:50am
Broulee/Moruya v Merimbula (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 12:50am
WOMEN’S
Tathra v Pambula (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 1:10pm
BM Giants v Merimbula (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 2:10pm
Bermagui v Bega (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 11:50am
Eden Bye
Narooma Bye
Senior Rep Preview
AFL South Coast v AFL Sapphire Coast
The Sapphire Coast Stingray’s have assembled a solid squad to gain revenge on AFL South Coast from season 2014 when the South Coast defeated the Sapphire Coast at the Nowra showgrounds. The Sapphire Coast will be led by coach Luke Taylor and captain Daniel Worden in 2017 with the sides average age in the low 20’s. With the Stingray’s playing 3 17 year olds the Sapphire Coast will be playing a fast brand of football where they will look to spread the football and utilize accurate foot skills to break open the game. After a convincing win in 2016 against AFL Canberra, the Stingrays will be confident going into this contest and coach Luke Taylor will be hopeful his players gel from the first bounce after a number of changes to the team. Although the likes of Kel Evans, Scott Hay and Luke Moresi will not be playing on Saturday the side has some big in’s including Jason Sauiluma, Charlie Shepherd and Daniel Worden.
Player to Watch: Charlie Shepherd, Has been in Pambula’s best every week since returning from the Wodonga Saints in the Tallangatta & District Football League. Prediction: Sapphire Coast by 16 Points.
Round 5 Preview
Women’s
After Round 4 the women’s grade is starting to separate into a top 4 and bottom 4 with Bermagui shaping as the biggest contender to Tathra, Pambula, Narooma and Eden. The match of the round is clearly Tathra hosting Pambula at Lawrence Park. The Panther are playing some exciting football led by Madi Whatman with the side possessing break neck speed. The Sea Eagles will find themselves in a good arm wrestle this weekend and a win for either team will assist in their top 2 aspirations. In Bermagui, the Breakers will be looking for win number 2 as they host a winless Bega side who scored their first points last weekend at Narooma. The Bombers have great numbers in 2017 and every game the side will get better and better, this weekend shapes up as an important game for the Bombers. In the final match, winless Broulee/Moruya and Merimbula will face each other in what should be another cracking contest in the women’s grade. The Giants have a number of young players and will look to out run the Diggers across 4 quarters in this key match up.
Player to Watch: Chloe Jennings, has been a shining light for the Diggers in 2017. The going has been tough although Jennings has shown that she can win and use the ball effectively. Prediction: Bermagui, Pambula, & BM Giants.
Development
At the completion of the weekend, there will be only one winless side in the development grade. The bottom of the table clash between the Giants and Diggers is a key match up to see who will edge into the top 4 whilst the other remains winless. Home ground advantage could be key in helping the Giants find their first win in the grade. In the second match up an undefeated Narooma Lions will put their perfect record on the line against Tathra. The Sea Eagles are yet to find their form from last year and a loss this weekend may see the Sea Eagles fall behind in their search for a top two finish. A win for the Lions will cement their position as a key player in season 2017.
Prediction: Merimbula & Narooma.
UNDER 16’s
BM Giants v Merimbula (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 11:30am
Narooma v Pambula (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 9:10am
UNDER 13’s
Bermagui v Bega (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 10:30am
BM Giants v Merimbula (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 10:10am
Eden, Narooma, Pambula Bye
UNDER 11’s
Bermagui v Bega (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 9:10am
BM Giants v Merimbula (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 9:00am
Tathra v Pambula (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 10:30am
Eden, Narooma Bye
Round 5 Preview
Under 16’s
Round 5 sees a couple of good match ups in the under 16’s grade. The Giants showed that they aren’t to far away from the top two, running with the Giants for 3 quarters. The Giants don’t have to wait long to get revenge as they face the Diggers again this weekend at home. Theodore Turner has come into his own this season starring for the Giants week in and week out with another 5 goal display on the weekend against a solid defensive side. Jed Martyn, Billy Stubbs and Caleb Higgins make up the Diggers big 3 and the three have been superb in season 2017. Being in Tuross, this should be another cracking game that should last the 4 quarters. In Tathra the Panthers host the Lions on neutral turf. The Lions are coming off a bye and will be fresh coming into this tough match up against the Panthers. Pambula were clinical last weekend against Bermagui dominating all over the field with Finley Cooke clearly best on the ground whilst the likes of Flynn Cook kicked 5 and Angus Tarpey 4. The Lions young squad need the like of Jackson Taylor and Rory Spurgeon to step up and help Tyson Mikolic who has played a major role in leading the way for the Lions. The Panthers are large favorites to maintain top spot whilst the Lions will be looking to be competitive.
Player to Watch: Angus Tarpey, The Pambula player can play a key role in the ruck whilst also swinging forward to be a key target. Prediction: Merimbula & Pambula.
Under 13’s
Broulee/Moruya Giants will be looking to take a big step this weekend as they host Merimbula. The Giants had a good confidence boosting win against Eden on the weekend after a tough loss against Narooma Lions the week before. The Diggers will be a tough match up for the Giants this weekend and will be fresh coming off the bye. The Diggers have had trouble kicking big scores in 2017 and a good defensive display from the Giants will be key if they are able to battle out a win in a close game. In the second match up this weekend the Breakers will go into their match against the Bega Bombers as heavy favorites having claimed comfortable wins against their surrounding competition. The Bombers are yet to claim a win in 2017 and this weekend may not be the match. Jonathan Harkins-McMahon has been solid for the Breakers across half back cutting off marks and rebounding off the defensive 50 to set up a number of the Breakers attacks in their comprehensive wins.
Player to Watch: Oliver Dolphin, The Giant has been solid in 2017 playing in key positions & bagging 4 majors last weekend. Prediction: Bermagui & Merimbula.
Under 11’s
Some big games in the under 11’s this weekend with the top 5 separated by 4 points entering round 5. Bermagui Breakers host Bega this weekend with both teams having been extremely competitive so far in the season. The premiership race is wide open in 2017 and a top two finish will be vital as clubs aim to take out the premiership flag. This game shapes up as a vital game in the context of a top two finish. Bega are coming off a tough loss against Narooma although have been impressive against Pambula and Tathra. The Breakers young players are starting to step up after the loss of players such as Travis Creek and Campbell Moresi to the 13’s and home ground advantage should see the Breakers lock in a top 2 spot for the time being. In Tuross Heads the Giants sit out of the top 4 on percentage and a win against top of the table Merimbula will see the Giants edge into the top 4. The Diggers have been impressive beating the likes of Pambula, Bermagui and Tathra and this weekends match against Broulee/Moruya will be another big test for the Diggers. The Giants will be looking to get their first win at home after two away wins so look for the Giants to be fired up for this match. The final match sees Tathra host Pambula. The Sea Eagles are still searching for their first win in 2017 and will have a great opportunity this weekend as they take on the one win Pambula Panthers. Nate Woods has been a big contributor for the Panthers and a big performance this weekend will see the Panthers pick up win number 2.
Player to Watch: Bryce Kellar, Pambula’s youngest Kellar brother has a huge career ahead of him in the under 11’s and has shown great strides already in 2017. Predictions: BMG, Bermagui & Pambula.
