By David Nagel
Is Nar Nar Goon a potential fly-in-the-ointment for premiership favourites Phillip Island…or was last year’s five-point victory over the Bulldogs merely a blip on the radar?
We’ll find out more on Saturday when the Goon host the Bulldogs in the WGFNC Match of the Day at Spencer Street.
These are two of the three undefeated teams – alongside Tooradin-Dalmore – that have set the standard in the early part of the season, with Inverloch-Kongwak just a feather behind.
The Bulldogs have been blowing teams away this season, scoring 200-points more than the Goon…who rate second in the competition for defence.
It’s a match up that appeals strongly, and one that Goon coach Luke Young can’t wait to come to fruition.
“I honestly think we match up well against them and think our style of play troubles them a bit,” Young said.
“They’ve got some real superstars, there’s no doubt about that, but we’ve got players who we think can nullify them.
“We think we’ve got the capabilities of getting more of the footy than them and hopefully that wins us the game.
“And we’ve got a forward line now that can kick some goals.”
Young is right, the Bulldogs do have their superstars and there’s none bigger than ruckman and dual league best-and-fairest winner Cam Pedersen.
This week the former AFL utility comes up against a young Eamon Trigg, who is hitting his straps after taking his time to work his way into the season.
Young knows how important Trigg’s impact on the game can be.
“He’s had a slow start to the year but is really starting to get going now,” Young explained.
“We knew we needed him up and running at this time of year and I think for a young kid he can have a real impact on the game.
“And he really looks forward to playing against Cam (Pedersen), he really looks forward to it.
“He’s looking to improve his football and looks forward to the challenge.”
Trigg’s impact can be huge, just as it was in the last-quarter revival that saw the Goon prevail in a hard-fought contest against Warragul Industrials last week.
His mobility troubled the Dusties, and the Goon will be looking to utilise that trait again.
You get the feeling that the Goon is one team that don’t fear the Bulldogs and will head into this contest fully expecting victory.
To do so, Dermott Yawney and Troy McDermott will need to be deadly in front of goals…because wasted opportunities just won’t cut it against this ruthless Bulldogs unit.
Expect a great game, with some wonderful ebb and flow…but the Doggies to get the candy by 11 points.
The other game that could have a bearing on finals later this year is the game at Bunyip between the home side and Tooradin-Dalmore.
The second breed of Doggies are not as highly-valued as the breed from Phillip Island, but this Bunyip crop is an improving conveyance that could make things difficult on their home ground.
But the Seagulls are really soaring at the minute, with several avenues to goal that Bunyip may have trouble in shutting down.
If Stewie Scanlon doesn’t get you, Blake Grewar might, or Jimmy Trezise might pop up out of the ground. Then there’s Julian Suarez who can drift forward….we’ll leave it there because the list goes on and on.
It’s the Seagulls by 29 points.
In other games, Warragul Industrials will bank its fifth victory of the season, against Dalyston, Cora Lynn will be too good for Garfield, while Inverloch-Kongwak will bounce back with a big win over Kilcunda-Bass.
And expect Kooweerup to have an even-ledger – four and four – after Mitch Cammarano, Nathan Voss and tall-man Mitch Davey lead the Demons to victory over Korumburra-Bena.
