Weekend footy previews

SFL ROUND 12 PREVIEWS
By Gary Williamson

Central Hawks v Claremont (at Bothwell)
THIS MATCH HAS BEEN RELOCATED TO OATLANDS
THE Central Hawks are still looking for their first win of the season and may be sensing an upset when they host Claremont who usually don’t play well on the road. The Hawks are fresh from the bye last week and will look to use the Bothwell ground to their advantage and attempt to get off to a good start to surprise the visiting side.

The Magpies were gallant winners last weekend in a come from behind victory over Brighton and this will give them plenty of confidence. They must work on their start and the small ground will probably suit their bigger players as they have strong bodies around the contest and need to assert their influence early in the contest. The Hawks' last game saw them play their best football of the year and the bye probably came at a bad time but if they can reproduce their last effort against Brighton then they are well in this contest.

The Hawks should give plenty of cheek in front of their home crowd but the Magpies have too much at stake and should take the points and remain in the top six.

Brighton v Cygnet
BRIGHTON are back on their home ground and face a real contest when they host a vastly improved Cygnet who are desperate for a win to remain in the hunt for the top six berth. The Robins will be on the rebound after stopping badly last weekend away from home against Claremont, losing by two points and really need to be striving to play four consistent quarters. The Port were very brave against highly rated Dodges Ferry and only need to bring that form away from home and they could take the points in this vital game as Brighton are edging them out of a top six berth.

The big Pontville ground should suit the Port's running brand of football and if they can win the stoppages and get the ball out wide then they will create plenty of scoring opportunities. The home side has some very big forwards and if these players get a one out contest then they will be hard to hold out from kicking a winning score. In a game that could go down to the wire, the Robins are always hard to beat at home and will have too much at stake and should take the points but must be at their best against a quality opposition who need to perform better on the road if they are to make the finals.

Dodges Ferry v East Coast
DODGES Ferry are back at home and will be confident of recording another victory when they host East Coast in what could be a fiery game of football. You would expect the Bombers to really have a crack early in the contest but the Sharks should have too much class and experience and with a strong home ground advantage with a very vocal crowd they should record a comfortable victory and remain in the six.

Sorell v Lindisfarne
SORELL is back at home and taking on the most improved side in the competition in Lindisfarne and face a massive task if they are to cause a really big upset. Sorell needs a good start to remain in the game and they should be competitive for half of the game but the power and class of Lindisfarne should see them pull away and record  a comfortable victory away from home and remain in the top two on the ladder.

Kingborough v Huonville
KINGBOROUGH are at home and looking to continue their good recent form when they host a struggling Huonville and should be confident of a comfortable victory. You would expect Huonville to be competitive for half of the game but Kingborough should pull away in the second half and record a comfortable victory at home.

New Norfolk has the bye.