By David Nagel
The advice is simple for third-placed Nar Nar Goon when it hosts top-of-the-table Cora Lynn in the WGFNC Match of the Day at Spencer Street on Saturday.
Justin Stanton and your boys…be prepared for an early onslaught!
Cora Lynn has bullied some high-class opposition in first quarters over the last fortnight; first dismissing Tooradin-Dalmore with a 6.4 to 1.0 beginning on the banks of the Westernport, before slamming on 6.2 to no score against reigning-premier Inverloch-Kongwak last week.
On both occasions the Cobras were outscored after quarter time; but the damage had been well and truly done.
The intensity builds from the first bounce, with ruck Billy Thomas and former Casey midfielder Jimmy Munro enjoying the slippery conditions in recent times.
The big body of Thomas has been controlling the stoppages easily, while a game of footy where the ball is consistently on the deck is right up Munro’s ally.
It’s a one-two sucker-punch that opposition midfielders are finding difficult to match up on in recent times.
But if one team has the ability to match the Cobras, it’s the Goon, with hard-nut skipper Trent Armour widely regarded as the pre-eminent midfielder in the competition.
Munro openly admitted he enjoyed the contest with Armour when the Cobras overcame the Goon by just three points in round seven; and the time has now come for reacquainting.
The consequences of losing are very different for both teams this week.
The Cobras need to win two of their last three, against the Goon, Warragul Industrials and Kilcunda-Bass, to guarantee a top-two finish and a freshen up in the first week of finals.
The Goon on the other hand, needs a perfect record against the Cobras, Garfield and Phillip Island to be any chance of finishing top two.
A last-quarter fadeout against Tooradin-Dalmore last week has really hurt its chances.
There’ll be nothing in this one; but we’ll go for the Cobras by seven points.
In other games this week, Phillip Island will be far too strong for Dalyston at Cowes, while Tooradin-Dalmore will back up its strong win over Nar Nar Goon with a 10-goal-plus win over Garfield.
Inverloch-Kongwak will pack too many punches for Kilcunda-Bass at Inverloch, while Kooweerup hosts Warragul Industrials in an intriguing battle at Denhams Road.
Both teams have been right off their tucker in recent times; but we’ll go for Nathan Voss to lead the Demons to an upset 13-point win on their home deck.
And Korumburra-Bena will enjoy the rare achievement of two-straight wins when the Giants head to Bunyip to take on the winless Bulldogs.
Expect Josh Hopkins to star and the Giants to win by 21 points.
