Preview: Pakenham versus Staghorn Flat The Bulls welcome the Parasites to Mill Park in a must-win game for the hosts if they are any chance to play finals in 2017. One of 5 teams on 8 wins, the Bulls need a couple of results to go their way to force their way into the lower reaches of the 8. In contrast, the Parasites’ season is done, playing for pride and simply the chance to overtake Staghorn with a last-round win. After a mid-season dip in form, the Bulls have responded in the last fortnight, notching vital wins against Gisborne and Coolgardie. Meanwhile, Pakenham have been in a funk, losing 3 of their last 4 to quickly slide out of finals contention. However, across this 4-week period the Parasites have a higher average of 1248 to the Bulls’ 1189. @ddsaints will be buoyed by the return of a couple of big men in NRoo and Vardy, who along with Buddy should cause plenty of headaches for the Bulls’ defence. Buddy getting off the chain (or not) early will go a long way to deciding the outcome. @tyze1 will have to decide if he sends a tagger to JJ, who has come back into form recently. With plenty of runners of their own however the Bulls may choose to roll the dice and use their own wingmen in the Hill Bros to hurt the Parasites with quick turnover ball. After a quiet few weeks, the Bulls need Rocky to take control of the clearances so that Coniglio and Whitfield can provide quality entries into the forward 50. If this can happen, then Lynch and Roughy are good enough to kick a winning score. McEvoy should take out the Big Tap for this week, and for the season, with a win over Bellchambers. Overall, this shapes as a toss-of-the-coin affair. Despite the losses, the Parasites have been in better recent form than the Bulls, and start $1.70 favourites with the bookies. However, I think with more to play for Staghorn Flat win by around 50, and then a nervous wait starts for the around the grounds announcement.
First update from Mill Park sees the visiting Parasites with a narrow lead early in the first quarter although twin towers and oft Bulls tormenters in Franklin (42) & Tippett (53) have failed to get the Parasites off to the flyer they hoped. Mackie (86) has been resolute down back with 23 disposals for the home team as the veteran continues to push for a contract in 2018. SFB 86 / 1 / 86 PAK 95 / 2 / 48
@Tylo Update from King Island: KIM - 277/3/92 SCS - 214/2/107 In bad news for Southern Cross, Duncan has been reported and Duckwood has injured his ankle. Both could be missing for the Sandgropers next week which could be a major blow for our flag hopes.
Score update from the Dino Dome sees the Prairie Dogs in front of the Prospectors. Hughenden 500/7/71 Prospectors 137/3/45 Hughenden are trying hard to give the Prospectors the opportunity to win with Garlett scoring only 7 for the whole 4 quarters but the Prospectors - Fantasia scored a 7 to match.
Score update sees the Prospectors inch closer Hughenden 500/7/71 Prospectors 250/4/62 Hughenden's backman Cedric Cox has gone down with an ankle with a huge 9 points to his name, Hughenden are starting to choke, like we haven't seen that before this season.
Cow Bay is fighting hard to keep their spoon hopes alive Cow Bay 477 / 7 / 68.14 Serengeti 771 / 8 / 96.38
Bulls are holding up their end of the bargain in attempting to jump into the top 8 - holding a lead over the Parasites SFB 932 / 12 / 78 PAK 548 / 8 / 69 Not over yet but the Bulls hold the whip hand. Woods hammy has kept the Parasites in this one. Coniglio, Rocky & the Hill bros leading the way for the Bulls, whilst Mullett, Hughes Sidebum & Simpson lead the way for the Parasites. Big Boy needs 49 for the Big Tap following T Bells pitiful 48. Hmm its like standing over a 3 foot putt knowing 2 putts will win you the title! its been three putted before! Interesting to hear the around the grounds scores... are other results panning the Bulls way or not!
Apologies @wrightbrendan for no match report last week. The Buff were well below their best with a few passengers but did enough to get home comfortably against the Monarchs with superior depth the key, as highlighted by interchange scores of 198 vs 82.
Just after half-time at the Kingdome, it's King Island 8/716/89.5 vs Southern Cross 10/904/90.4. For @eagle_eyed 's Sandgropers, Fyfe and Duncan have been superb in the middle. For the Monarchs, Macrae has dominated running unchecked at half-forward but David Swallow has failed to show leaving a big donut shaped hole in the midfield.
This is going to be a close one @Tylo. Plenty of potential for your crow forwards to large in a showdown; it's going to go right to the wire. Go Gropers!
Update from The Stadium sees a very close match at 1/2 time between the visiting Grenades and the home town Barcrawlers. Banchang 10/893/89.3 lead Gisborne 7/623/89. The defence of Banchang with Adams 127, Tuohy 107 and Newman 85, have been terrific and have held Gisborne's forwards Jones 92 and Casboult 65 to a very low score. The shining lights for Gisborne have been Neale in the middle with a brilliant 156 and new boy Ryan down back with 116, while Banchang have Hanley and Wright both wiith 100, while Bastinac has chimed in off the bench with a handy 90. The second half may just determine where the "spoon" heads to.....Cow Bay or Banchang
The battle for "The Spoon" is heating up...... The live ladder as it stands, sees 18th.......Cow Bay 20pts 18418 pts for.......2 to play 17th.......Gisborne 20pts 18841 pts for.......8 to play 16th.......Banchang 20pts 19010 pts for.....5 to play 15th.......Hughenden 20pts 19341 pts for...8 to play Looks like @fresh might be in a spot of trouble.....unless @Tomster can knock @choppers off in the 2nd half....a distinct possibility....
Update from the Dino Dome sees the under manned Prospectors in front at the 6/9th of the way through the game. Hughenden 508/8 Prospectors 522/8 It's a dour game of no highlights with the Prospectors fighting hard to make the 8 and Hughenden trying hard to keep 17th spot.
Score update 6/9 the way through the Whalers @HOLKY are on 761/10 76.1 up against the Barracudas on 931/11 84.6
The Smugglers are doing what they can to pinch a spot in the finals leading the Bunyips, 671/8(84) to 449/7(64).
UPDATE: With the latest update from the Dino Dome and the "spoon" order has changed....... 18th....Hughenden 16pts....19393 pts for 17th....Cow Bay 20pts........18418 pts for 16th....Gisborne 20pts........18841 pts for 15th... Banchang 20pts.......19010 pts for