By David Nagel
No disrespect to Phillip Island; but if Inverloch-Kongwak can knock the Doggies off at Inverloch on Saturday then we’re set for a magnificent final round of the season just seven days later.
A Phillip Island win this week would guarantee the Bulldogs a top-two finish this season; earning a week’s rest and a double chance, likely joining Cora Lynn in those pivotal two places on the ladder.
But a Sea Eagles victory; well that puts an entirely different spin on things.
The top-four teams, Phillip Island, Cora Lynn, Nar Nar Goon and Inverloch-Kongwak would head to round 18 with just two points separating the lot.
Cora Lynn host Kilcunda-Bass, and should win that, while Inverloch-Kongwak will be on a ‘percentage-hunting’ mission at Bunyip.
Phillip Island host Nar Nar Goon; in a game with significant meaning if the Bulldogs fail to get across the line this weekend.
Phillip Island spread the load beautifully against Dalyston last week, with 11 goal-kickers contributing to its 125-point thumping of the Magpies.
Billy Taylor was sensational with seven goals, but having names like Hayden Bruce, Max Walton, Tom Baulch, Cam Pedersen and Jack Taylor on a goal-scoring list is enough to frighten the pants off anyone.
The Bulldogs are potent, and are certainly playing some good footy.
Inverloch bounced back last week from its poor performance against Cora Lynn, with Tate Short booting five goals and Ethan Park and Oscar Toussaint dominating proceedings from the midfield.
Lewis Rankin, Luke Johnson and Xavier Hughes have been terrific for the Sea Eagles down back, while the recent inclusion of Michael Eales gives Hughes some added support in containing opposition key forwards.
Pedersen and Jack Taylor will be Eales and Hughes’ likely ‘go-to’ options this week.
Games between these two clubs are always hard-fought, but we’ll go for Phillip Island to have too many match-winners and win by 17 points.
In other games this week, Tooradin-Dalmore will destroy Bunyip at Tooradin, while Nar Nar Goon will keep its top-two aspirations alive on a short trip to Garfield.
Cora Lynn will be far too good for Warragul Industrials at Western Park, while Kooweerup will make it two straight on a tricky trip to Dalyston.
The Demons were fantastic against the Dusties last week, and with Korumburra-Bena coming up in round 18 have the ideal opportunity to finish off their season with a three-game winning streak.
And Korumburra-Bena will look to make it three straight wins when the Giants welcome rivals Kilcunda-Bass to the Korumburra Showgrounds.
After one win from their first 14 games, the Giants have now put back-to-back to wins on the board and are now all of a sudden hungry for more.
But the class of Nathan Foote, Dale Gawley, Travis Tuck and Anthony Daraio will get the Panthers across the line.
It’s the Panthers by 34 points.
