Work conference this week has taken away vital ORFFU prep time but will look to get out some ramblings on a few important matchups for the penultimate round; Pearcedale Panthers vs Coolgardie Prospectors Staghorn Flat Bulls vs Gisborne Grenades Serengeti Buffalos vs King Island Monarchs Banchang Barcrawlers vs Southern Cross Sandgropers
Staghorn Flat vs Gisborne What's at stake? Unfortunately for @Tomster and the Gisborne faithful, their late season charge has fallen short and 2018 will be a year too early for them to test their finals credentials while @tyze1 and the Bulls are clinging to hope with a realistic chance to grab a spot in the top 8 although they will likely need to win both their remaining games. Selection table With the return of David Zaharakis last week the Bulls midfield returned to full strength and it showed with the group posting a mammoth 410 despite Rockliff's quiet afternoon. Long term injury to TJ Lynch means the forward line is below full strength but it is the continued absence of sole ruckmen McEvoy that is really hurting the Bulls. Gisborne remain close to full strength and it has shown in their scoring with an average of 1260+ over the last month even with such a young squad Prediction Hate to sound like a broken record for the Bulls' fans but the lack of a backup to McEvoy could cost the team again and put an end to their finals ambitions. I'm tipping season 2018 to be over for Staghorn Flat after this weekend with the Grenades getting over the line and agonisingly close to the elusive finals berth. Grenades by 25
Pearcedale v Coolgardie What's at stake? Even though they need teams above them to lose @JPK and his Prospectors can still storm into finals calculations with a win this week given their strong scoring perfomance this season. Pearcedale are all but assured a finals berth but they would want to win at least one of their last 2 to make sure of it. Given they come up against the top of the table Armadillos in the final round they wouldn't want to drop this one. These two sides could easily finish on the same amount of wins and fall either side of the finals barrier so regardless of the result they will want to make sure they at least score strongly. Selection table Josh Kennedy overcame a bad back to get up for last week and looks to be fine to play out the remainder of the season. Disappointingly @TigersTooTough continues to keep Harley Bennel from making his season debut with time running out if he is to make a difference during the finals. Coolgardie will be sweating on the fitness of O'Meara after he was a late withdrawal last week. @JPK will be desperate for him to get up as they'll need him back against the Panthers if they are to match a solid and experienced midfield. Prediction The Prospectors have outscored the Panthers in all 4 rounds since the mid-season break but the loss of their influential swingman James Sicily has put a real dent in their scoring Pearcedale's strength is their rebounding backline with the likes of Howe, Shaw, Savage and Ellis capable of going big on their day. They're also inconsistent though so the coach will be nervous about which version of each of them will turn up this week but I'm tipping the Panthers to get the job done and lock away yet another finals appearance.
Serengeti v King Island What's at stake? Serengeti climbed into the top 8 with a win over zn injury depleted Sandgropers outfit last week but their poor scoring start to the season means they need to keep winning if they want to be assured of a finals spot. After @Tylo was sitting pretty near the top of the table during the early rounds, a combination of key injuries and poor form have seen the Monarchs come crashing down to earth and are now realistically out of the finals picture. Serengeti can more than likely clinch 8th spot with a win and a loss from Staghorn, Coolgardie and Banchang although Staghorn would be mathmatically still alive if they overcome a large points difference Selection table Serengeti's plans around a power forward line of tall timber has not quite worked out this year and Daniher plus Cameron remain out of contention for at least one more week with Elliott also still another week away from putting his hand up to be a different option up forward. King Island copped another injury last week to young star Zac Fisher to go with the crushing blow of losing NIcNat in hte past fortnight. With Zac Smith also not getting up for the game and JJK in doubt, management at the Monarchs will be hoping a few old timers in Goddard, Walker, Betts and Vince can step up to assist the star group of Macrae, Cotchin & Rance. Prediction With the Monarchs missing too many key pieces of the puzzle, especially if Kennedy ends up stuck on the shores of the mainland and unable to travel to Serengeti this should be a comfortable win ofr the Buffaloes. However it wasn't too long ago that this Serengeti squad was barely able to scrounge together anything resembling a winning score so they won't want to be taking anything easy. Tipping Serengeti to keep it together in an important contest. Buffaloes by 100+
Banchang v Southern Cross What's at stake? Massive game with plenty on the line for both teams. Banchang need to keep winning to keep their finals dream alive and Southern Cross are one of 4 teams locked on 11 wins fighting for 3 spots in the top 4 behind runaway leaders Ararat. Even if the Barcrawlers can get up over the Sangropers @choppers will be relying on losses to at least Serengeti and Staghorn but realistically they'll also need Coolgardie to lose as well for season 2018 to still be alive come next weeks final round of matches. @eagle_eyed must have recently walked under a ladder and broken a mirror as they tripped over a black cat. They just can't take a trick at the moment with keeping their players on the park but thanks to a super impressive season up to this point they can probably clinch a double chance with 1 win in the remaining 2 rounds. Selection table The Barcrawlers have been dealt an injury blow of their own with super impressive rookie Tom Doedee out of the team this week who joins James Sicily and Sam Reid on the sidelines. The underrated midfield of Banchang remains in tact and they'll need them to continue taking full advantage of in-form big man Callum Sinclairs top class work if they are to be a chance of dealing the Sandgropers back to back losses. Although their squad has been ravaged by injuries in the back half of the season there is some light starting to ever so slightly poke its way through the darkness with the return this week of Stringer & the uber important Ryder. Hibberd, McVeigh, Howard and Williamson all still remain out from the Sandgroper backline though which will put the defence under pressure to keep them in the game. Prediction This has been one of the toughest matchups to predict a winner in since the start of these previews. At full strength it is probable the Sandrgropers fairly comfortably but their injuries have brought them back to the pack. I'd almost tip a draw but with the return of some key players, especially Ryder I think Southern Cross will get the job done. Sandgropers by 15