ROUND 11 PREVIEW

Round 11 Fixtures…

Seniors
Pambula v Narooma (Pambula Sports Complex) 1:00pm
Merimbula v Eden (Berrambool Sports Complex) 2:30pm
Tathra- Bye
Reserves
Merimbula v Tathra (Berrambool Complex) 1:10pm

Round 11 Preview
Pambula v Narooma
It was a tough loss last time out for the Panthers, although they will have a chance to get their revenge over the Narooma Lions this weekend on home soil. The Panthers will be hopeful that Jordan Pilgrim will be able to ruck this weekend for long stretches with Harrison Peters still recovering from a foot injury sustained surfing. The Panthers did a good job of keeping Simon Mackie quiet in their last matchup although Jai Reed stepped to the fore booting 5 goals for the Lions. Reed has had a mixed season between playing for the Lions, GWS NEAFL side whilst recovering from last seasons knee injury and will be looking to play his best football of the season in the latter stages of the season as the Lions look to push for grand final success. At this point of the season, the top two is slipping away from the Panthers and another loss this weekend could see the side slip 12 points behind Merimbula in second. If the panthers are unable to sneak into the top two, they will definitely want a home semi final, especially if they are to take on the Tathra Sea Eagles. Look for the Panthers to put in a bounce back performance this weekend.

Player to Watch: Ethan Adams, Adams was apart of the Panthers reserve grade premiership last season and has taken the step up to play regular senior football in 2018. A staple of the Panthers back line, Adams will have his work cut out this weekend against the leagues best forward line.
Prediction: Narooma by 25 Points.

Merimbula v Eden
The Diggers have been one of the form teams of the league over the past weeks and Merimbula will be looking to keep that streak going on home soil this weekend. The last time these two played at Berrambool was in torrential rain and both teams will be hoping for clear conditions come Saturday. Merimbula are set to be without some key players Justin Burch, Jedd Martyn and Cameron Farrel set to miss the clash due to the three being away whilst Caleb Higgins who has been dominating in 2018 for the team is set to miss due to a forearm injury. The Whalers welcome back midfielder Brayden Grimmond after a couple of weeks off and Eden will be hopeful of pushing the Diggers for four quarters after doing so for three quarters at the Eden Football Ground. After a couple of weeks off, the Whalers will be keen to impress and notch win number one, although will have their work cut out for them against Merimbula who are clear in second place on the ladder.

Player to Watch: Joshua Brown, In his first full season of AFL Brown has been growing in confidence each game he has played. In the Whalers last match out, Brown found himself in the midfield for the majority of the game. He has started to find plenty of the ball and uses his pace to get away from opposition players. Prediction: Merimbula by 39 Points.

Reserves Merimbula v Tathra
What an epic this match was at Lawrence Park two weeks ago. The Diggers and Sea Eagles played out the seasons first draw in dramatic fashion. With a fast Merimbula start, Tathra wrestled back control until a late Merimbula goal snatched a draw between the competitions two top sides. This weekends match has all the makings to be another cracking contest with both sides confident of their ability to claim the 4 points this weekend. With plenty of quality players running around for both squads look for this game to be n entertaining one. Merimbula will be looking forward to returning home onto the bigger deck of Berrambool whilst the Sea Eagles will be looking to show that they are also able to play some good football on the bigger ground. Wade Edmed has been stellar for the Diggers this season whilst David Little has been solid down back for Tathra taking a number of intercept marks. P

layer to Watch: Aidyn Snow, was the hero for the Diggers last time out with his last minute opportunistic goal. Look for Snow to have one eye on the goals this weekend. Prediction: Draw.