Doveton under 18 player Ryan Pearson is pushed for senior selection with a best afield performance against ROC on Saturday.By Brad Kingsbury
DOVETON faces another challenge to its superiority in the Casey Cardinia League this weekend when the much-improved Tooradin visits the Robinson Reserve.
The Doves are showing signs of laziness and if that trend continues, a loss is more than possible.
The Seagulls are workmanlike in their approach to every game and have learned to reduce both the amount and time of costly lapses. Lapses were the problem against Pakenham last week and the lessons of that match would have been well learned.
If the Seagulls kick straight for goal and scoreboard pressure can be applied the game will be on.
The Doves have the brilliance to win, but that is the same every week. If they apply themselves they will triumph, if not Tooradin could provide a shock to their system.
Berwick coach Ronnie Burns will be aiming for a deluge of goals in this week’s traditional ‘Battle of the Creek’ against Beaconsfield.
Given a reasonable day, this week’s game for the Frank Elliot Memorial Shield will be a cracker, with both sides hitting form and both still a chance of playing finals.
The key to the game will be the ability of each defence to stop the other’s star forwards with players like Ryan Donaldson, George Gorozidis, Haydn Robins and Luke McConnell all capable of winning games off their own boot.
Edwin Flack Reserve should provide the space that Berwick needs to kick a winning score.
Keysborough will enter this weekend’s game against Hampton Park as warm favourites. The Redbacks have dropped away this year and the Burra has turned defeat into a dirty word.
The Booth Reserve will not daunt Keysborough because it is quite happy to play in close and mix it up and, if the game develops into a scrap, Keysborough will retain a distinct edge.
Cranbourne meets ROC at the Casey Fields complex in what is a danger game for the Kangaroos. Last year Cranny downed ROC by a point at the racecourse with that loss ultimately costing them a finals position.
ROC coach Hayden Stanton has acknowledged the importance of the game and, while the home side will do its best to outrun the Kangaroos, class should prevail and give ROC a win.
Pakenham is in no mood to allow the youngsters from Devon Meadows to dictate play this Saturday. Lions stars including Lincoln Withers, coach Michael Holland, Jared Goldsack and Justin Sutherland are in awesome form and, at home, will be looking at winning the game in the first half and boosting their percentage after half-time.
The carnage that Narre Warren will cause at Dingley should not be allowed.
Aussie Jones’ rampaging Magpies are in no mood for mercy and the way they are dismantling opponents is awesome.
With its new brand of four-quarter discipline, Narre Warren will be entrenched at the top of the table and firm flag favourite on Saturday night.
