By David Nagel
Kooweerup will get a true indication of where it sits in the 2024 landscape when the Demons welcome a vastly-improved Kilcunda-Bass to Denhams Road on Saturday.
The Demons kick-started their season on their home-deck with an 18-point victory over Dalyston, but then faced the WGFNC equivalent of trying to conquer Mt Everest.
A round-two trip to Inverloch was followed by a visit to Nar Nar Goon; two ‘base-camps’ where teams are going to fall victim to an avalanche of goals this year.
The Sea Eagles and Goon look a class above at this early stage of the season; and the Demons felt the full brunt.
Combined consecutive losses of 200 points show how far the Demons are away from challenging the ‘terrific-two’.
But it’s back to reality now, against a team the Demons hold a 5-4 record against since the inception of the WGFNC in 2017.
The Demons certainly have talent, with Matt Voss, Josh Bateman, Mitch Cammarano and Nathan Voss all capable of playing some good footy, while under-rated types like Mitch Alderson and Nick Bindley continue to get big roles.
And there are plenty of huge roles to share around against Kilcunda-Bass this year.
The Panthers were undefeated heading into last week’s clash against Phillip Island and, with a six-point lead at quarter time; eyebrows were starting to be raised.
The Bulldogs flexed their muscles, as they so often done in the past, but the Panthers won two of the four quarters of footy to show they’re a very-competitive unit.
Reinforcements have arrived for players like Jake Weightman, Jack Soroczynski, Daniel Mock and Ben Eddy; in the form of Travis Tuck, Jo West and Jayden Goumas, while Nathan Foote continues to do Nathan Foote type things.
This one will be won and lost through the midfield, and the Panthers appear to have that added layer of polish to get the job done.
It’s the Panthers by 13 points.
In other games this week, Nar Nar Goon will head to top place on the ladder with a huge win over Korumburra-Bena, while Dalyston will make it back-to-back wins on a road trip to Bunyip.
The Magpies could quite easily be three-zip this year, with close losses to Kooweerup and Garfield followed by an easy win over the Giants.
Expect Hayden Wallis and Jaxon Foon to get amongst it, and the talented Dino Karamoshos to shine, and the Magpies to win by plenty.
And the final of the four games this week sees Garfield turn on the porch light for Tooradin-Dalmore at Beswick Street.
The Stars were taught a football lesson by Inverloch-Kongwak last week, but need to brush that aside to measure themselves against the Gulls.
Co-coaches Lachie Schreurs and Rhys Murphy have put far too much work in to watch it all subside; and we can expect a brave challenge from the improving Stars on their home ground.
But the Seagulls showed some promising signs last week, kicking nine second-half goals to waltz away from the Dusties.
Lewis Hill was energetic; Adam Oxley full of class, while the hard-work of Johnny Duff and key-tall Ray Lengyel paid off in the end.
It’s the Gulls by 46 points.
Cora Lynn, Inverloch-Kongwak, Phillip Island and Warragul Industrials all have byes this week after playing their round-four games on Saturday 30 March.
TIPS – ROUND 4: Saturday 4 May, 2024
Kooweerup v KILCUNDA-BASS, Bunyip v DALYSTON, Garfield v TOORADIN-DALMORE, NAR NAR GOON v Korumburra-Bena.
