By DAVID NAGEL
Casey Cardinia Football League preview – round 3
THE most unique and emotional atmosphere that an Australian sporting field has to offer will inspire Tooradin and Cranbourne when the two teams run out for their ANZAC Day clash at Westernport Oval on Friday.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder will be 44 lucky players with their football and netball contemporaries, honouring the spirit of the ANZAC’s. They will then lock horns in what’s sure to be a spine-tingling environment.
This will be a massive test for the Seagulls because Cranbourne has some players who have a natural affinity for the big stage. Skipper Marc Holt will be keen to set the big crowd alight with a huge-haul of goals while Michael Theodoridis, Ryan Jones and Max Gearon are all regulars on the highlight reel.
In just two games, Tooradin has given clear evidence that the gap between its best and worst is still wide. Their midfield leaders like Matt Wade, Phil Burns and Brett Scarcella have the talent to trouble the Eagles but it won’t be enough and the visitors will take home the points.
BERWICK’s emergence as a top-three contender will be put to the ultimate test on Saturday when Narre Warren pays a visit to Edwin Flack Reserve.
The big-test against the reigning-champs is followed by a trip to Cranbourne on May 3 and will give a very clear indication of the Wickers’ potential for the rest of the season.
Up until now, Rhys Nisbet’s team could hardly have been more impressive, thrashing Beaconsfield and Pakenham by around the 15-goal mark.
Berwick has taken on a Narre Warren type look in its first two games, with a wide spread in front of goals. The Wickers have had nine and 11 goal-kickers respectively in their first two games with 14 of their 39 goals coming from players who have spent significant time in the midfield. On the flipside, Narre gets a tremendous amount of drive from half back. Nick Scanlon, Lee Boyle and Kain Baskaya are all penetrating kicks who set a high-standard in all facets of the game. Stopping that rebound must be a focus if the Wickers are to kick a winning score.
It will take a monumental team effort because any one weak link will be exposed.
The Magpies are ruthless and love a challenge. Aaron Purvis, Paul Vanschilt, Jordy and Madi Andrews and Nathan Waite can expect to be hit hard while no youngster will be spared at the coal-face. The Magpies are the masters of identifying just that one half step and then going in for the kill.
They’ll do so again, shaking off a plucky Berwick outfit by 29 points.
In other games, finalists from last year, Beaconsfield and Pakenham, should record their first wins for the season against Hampton Park and Keysborough respectively, while ROC and Doveton will fight out the thriller of the round at Starling Road.
