ROUND 14 PREVIEW
Round 14 sees some fantastic games in the Sapphire Coast AFL. With finals fast approaching there are some key matches in the under 11’s with Bermagui and Narooma battling for 2nd whilst Pambula need to bounce back in the 16’s as they take on Merimbula.
ROUND 14 FIXTURES
SENIOR’S
Merimbula v Pambula (Berrambool Sports Complex, Merimbula) 1:10pm
Eden v Tathra (Eden Football Ground) 2:30pm
Bermagui v Narooma (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 2:30pm
DEVELOPMENT
BM Giants v Narooma (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 10:30am
Merimbula v Pambula (Berrambool Sports Complex, Merimbula) 11:50am
WOMEN’S
BM Giants v Tathra (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 1:10pm
Eden v Bega (Eden Sports Ground) 1:10pm
Bermagui v Narooma (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 1:10pm
Merimbula, Pambula– Bye
Round 14 Preview
Merimbula v Pambula
It’s a big weekend for the Diggers this weekend with their MND awareness match which will see a number of high profile individuals going down the slide. The Diggers will be looking to claim the 4 points and will be confident after pushing the Panthers for three quarters in their last contest in Pambula. Tyson Nunn was able to push forward last weekend for the Panthers to kick 3 goals and with the Panthers playing in a number of low scoring games in recent weeks, multiple goal kickers for either side will be vital.
Player to Watch: Reece Moulden, In his second full season of senior football, the young Digger has come into his own towards the back end of the season. Prediction: Pambula by 5 Points.
Eden v Tathra
The Whalers will be at home again this weekend as they take on Tathra. The Whalers were within three kicks of the breakers last weekend at half time and will be confident against Tathra with the likes of Corey Spinks, Dylan Wheeler and Joel Grewar available after the conclusion of the rugby league season. The Sea Eagles were back to winning ways last weekend in a 17 point win against Merimbula with Chris Dwyer playing a vital role through the Sea Eagles midfield.
Player to Watch: Dylan Wheeler, The Whaler has only played a handful of games in 2017 although was Eden’s best on the weekend playing a vital role in the midfield. Big body that uses the footy. Prediction: Tathra by 50 Points.
Bermagui v Narooma
Big weekend of footy for both clubs as the Breakers look to hold third spot whilst the Lions look to keep rolling in 2017. Narooma look like they could be without Jason Sauiluma due to a concussion after last weekends bruising match against the Panthers. The Breakers aren’t without injuries themselves with Marcus Smith leaving last weekends game with a knee injury and Jack Dobell the week before with an ankle. Northern bragging rights will be at stake this weekend with the match to have plenty of great moments like past clashes between the two.
Player to Watch: Chanse Donohue, Has been named for the lions against his old side of 2014/15. Prediction: Narooma by 18 Pts.
Women’s
The round starts with the Giants hosting the Sea Eagles in Tuross. The Sea Eagles will be wary of the Giants who they have not yet played in 2017 as the Giants nearly caught out premier hopefuls Pambula last week. Tathra see’s the return of U15 all Australian school girl Tarni Evans and her team mates will be looking to give her the best coming home gift. Sea Eagle Samantha Crowley has been in red hot form of late and will need to be shut down. In the second match up the Whalers look to have a relatively straight forward match ahead against the Bega Bombers. The Bombers are yet to get a win this season and if they are this weekend they will need to shut down the likes of Carra Sheldon, Kamilla Grubesic and the Mitchell sisters. In the final matchup this weekend the Breakers host the Lions with Bermagui sitting 4 points behind fourth placed Narooma. A win for the Lions this weekend will see the side all but lock in fourth place. Narooma will be without Elly Hawkey with a foot injury although strong performances in recent weeks from Lara Stephens and Meagan Mackie see the Lions go into this match as favorites. Merimbula and Pambula both have the bye this weekend.
Player to Watch: Kristelle Westbrook, The young Giant has started to play some great football in recent weeks and will need to play a vital role this weekend if her side is to put in a big performance this weekend. Prediction: Eden, Narooma & Tathra.
Development
The Giants continue to hang onto a top four place based on percentage and it looks like next weeks match between them and the Diggers will be key in either side making the finals. The Giants host Narooma this weekend who will be looking to sure up a top 2 spot with Tathra having the bye this weekend. Coming off the bye the Lions will be raring to go which could spell danger for the Giants. In the second match, the Diggers host the Panthers who are on fire in 2017. Tom Hammond and Ian Smith have been huge for the Panthers up forward and look to be battling it out for the goal kicking award in the final three games.
Prediction: Narooma & Pambula.
ROUND 14 FIXTURES
UNDER 16’s
BM Giants v Narooma (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 9:10am
Merimbula v Pambula (Berrambool Sports Complex, Merimbula) 10:30am
UNDER 13’s
Bermagui v Narooma (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 11:50am
Eden v Bega (Eden Football Ground) 11:50am
BM Giants, Merimbula, Pambula– Bye
UNDER 11’s
BM Giants v Tathra (Kyla Park, Tuross Heads) 11:50am
Eden v Bega (Eden Sports Ground) 10:30am
Bermagui v Narooma (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 10:30am
Merimbula, Pambula– Bye
ROUND 14 PREVIEW
Under 16’s
The Giants are surging towards the back end of the season defeating the Panthers last weekend to take second spot on the ladder and the club will be looking to back up that great result with another this weekend against Narooma. The Giants were able to win last weekend without key man Buster Ware with the likes of Lachlan Brennan, Theo Turner and Bill Williams having big games. Narooma has locked in fourth place although a poor percentage doesn’t see the side breaching the top two. In the second matchup the Diggers host the Panthers in a huge game for both clubs. The Panthers will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance last weekend although the Diggers hold the head to head against the Panthers. This is set to be one of the biggest matches of the round.
Player to Watch: Kendall Mylan, One of the Panthers towering tall’s needs to assert himself in the final rounds. Mylan is one of the leaders of the team who will give his all. Prediction: Pambula & Giants.
Under 13’s
Bermagui flexed their muscles last weekend against the Eden Whalers with a big win and 9 individual goal kickers. Campbell Moresi was a key performer off half forward last weekend whilst Raymond Campbell was dynamite in the forward pocket for the Breakers. The two forwards will be key to this weekend’s matchup against the Lions who have been improving week in, week out in 2017. Narooma want to be key players come finals time and pushing the Breakers this weekend will be an important step in the teams development. In the second matchup the Whalers host the Bombers looking to claim win number two for the season. This is shaping up to be a big match between the two sides and the Butchers brothers should help the Bombers get the 4 points.
Player to Watch: Jake Hemsted, One goal and one of Bermagui’s best last weekend. His first game in two months Hemsted is set for a big three weeks before the finals kick off. Prediction: Bermagui & Bega.
Under 11’s
A big upset last weekend saw the Bombers claim the four points against second placed Narooma to stay in contact with the top 4. Last week’s win will mean nothing if they can’t back it up against Eden this weekend as the Bombers finish the season with 3 winnable matches. The Whalers boast one of the best players in the league in Jemma Pollock and she will be looking to spoil the Bombers run towards the finals. In Tuross the Giants have a winnable match this weekend against Tathra. The Sea Eagles had a good performance against ladder leaders Merimbula last weekend and the side will be a big test for fourth placed Giants this weekend. A matchup to watch in this one will be Tasman Simons and Jardy Palmer in the middle. In the final game the Breakers host Narooma in what is now a hotly contested second spot. A win for the Breakers will see the sides draw level on points with Bermagui having the easier run home of the two sides. One of the matches of the round.
Player to Watch: Rahul Mudaliar, Played a great game against Bermagui last weekend picking up plenty of possessions. Prediction: Bega, Giants & Narooma.
