Round 18 previews
Final round of the home and away season
New Norfolk v East Coast
NEW Norfolk are back at home for the last game of the season but would prefer a real hard game as they have a rest next weekend and then a home game second semi-final. Instead they meet East Coast who have struggled for most of the season. The Eagles really need a solid tune-up for the finals as they will host Lindisfarne in a fortnight and really need to keep their momentum going, along with getting as much form and fitness into their entire list and this will not be easy against the lowly Bombers.
New Norfolk had an easy win last week over Cygnet away from home and they need to rotate their player positions to ensure the are well prepared for injuries in the finals and not concentrate on another big victory as an easy win is not ideal at this time of the season. The Bombers have really lost from in recent weeks and with several injuries they are undermanned and playing away from home appears to be massive task and they need a good start to get some early confidence.
With Eagle forward Michael Thomson only needing five goals for the hundred you would expect he will get these very early and perhaps give him a rest as other forwards need to contribute.The Eagles should cruise to a comfortable victory at home and it will be interesting to see how hard they push, as they will remember last seasons as they had easy games and byes and then a fade out in the grand final.
Dodges Ferry v Central Hawks
DODGES Ferry are back at home and will looking for a big win and hoping Claremont lose to Kingborough so they can take back fourth spot on the ladder. They and should face an easy task over the Central Hawks who have yet to win a game this season. The Sharks were defeated last week away from home by a desperate Brighton and they need to quickly regroup on the eve of the finals but would have preferred a much harder game in the lead-up to next weekend's elimination final. They need to get off to a good start as the Hawks will be lacking confidence after a big thrashing last week at home from Kingborough and tend to drop off if sides score heavily in the first quarter. The Hawks may be able to close up the game on the small Shark Park oval but if they let the Sharks get the ball out of the centre square and win the clearances with ease they will get scored against regularly as the home side has plenty of scoring opportunities and their onballers are dangerous if they are allowed to roam free across half forward. Dodges Ferry should be far too strong at home, recording a big win as they sweat on other results. The Hawks have had a bad season and really need to recruit well for next year.
Kingborough v Claremont
KINGBOROUGH are back at home and striving for a win to secure third spot on the ladder and an all important home final next weekend. But they face a desperate Claremont who also need a win to secure fourth place and a home final, which presents a close game of football. The Tigers were big winners last weekend away from home over the Central Hawks and will face a much harder opponent who are in form. The Magpies were winners at home over Sorell but slowed in the second half and cannot afford any lapses against a high class opponent otherwise Kingborough will score heavily and break the game apart. They need to get off to a good start especially away from home and maintain the pressure over their rivals as Kingborough have been suspect when sides close up the game and stop their switch of play and not allow them to create the loose man. The Twin Ovals ground will suit the home side better as they have more pace and skill than the opposition and with more key marking forwards they have a big advantage and will be looking for a good performance for next week home elimination final. Kingborough should be far too strong at home as they have hit top form a the right time of the season and should record a comfortable win at home as the Magpies will have to wait on other results to see if they can host an elimination final.
Lindisfarne v Huonville
LINDISFARNE have a home game to finish the season and would prefer an easy game however they face a desperate Huonville who need a decent win to sneak into an unlikely finals berth but face a huge task against the in-form team of the competition. The Lions will give plenty of cheek early in the game but the class and power of the Two Blues should see them record a comfortable victory and a good tune up for the finals.
Sorell v Cygnet
SORELL are back at home and will looking to finish the season with a win but they face huge task against a desperate Cygnet who need a big win to grab a big win to take a finals berth off Brighton who have the bye and face a nervous wait. You would expect Sorell to put up a brave performance but the class and depth of Cygnet should see them take the points but perhaps not the massive win they need for a finals berth on percentage.
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