Sat’dy Arvo Footy August 6th 2011

Some teams must be well over it.

Glenorden, for example, whose seniors (WRFL Div1) lost by 277 points to Spotswood on Saturday. No mention on their site about the fate of coach Jay Fantusca, though there is notice that cricket will soon be underway! What makes it hard for clubs like the Hawks is that you want the juniors to aspire to playing right through the age groups and these sorts of drubbings really dent the morale. Their winless season scuppers them to Div 2 for 2012. Spotty, meanwhile, after their shock loss last week, can strut again with Jason Cloke’s 16 goals setting them up for yet another tilt at a flag…it looks to be between them and Albion, with St Albans (3), this week hosting Altona (4), the best of the rest.

Strathmore ran away from Abers in the last quarter for a comprehensive win last Sat’dy and they now are EDFL premiership favourites. Early pacesetters Aberfeldie and Marby Park are stuttering. The Lions lost yet again, beaten comfortably by Greenvale, and reports of up to a dozen injuries appear to be on the money – their season is teetering and they are somehow hoping King Carey can turn the tide – tried long ago by King Canute! – when he runs out at home this week against Avondale Heights. Oak Park, a really honest team, is pushing in to contention and must now be considered a threat.

In the Eastern Footy League, East Burwood and East Ringwood play an eliminator as each chases a flicker of a finals spot. Balwyn, holding on to 5th, are hosting top side Noble Park this Sat’dy, whilst Scoresby (3) v Blackburn (2) will be a spirited battle for a mental edge pre-finals.

Though way out of finals contention, I’m delighted to report that the mighty Tooradin-Dalmore Seagulls had a dramatic victory over staunch rivals Beaconsfield last week. Some at Beacy might think that this was one that got away, given that they kicked 12-21 to lose by a couple of points to Tooradin’s 15-5! The ‘Gulls have another tough one this week at Hampton Park who are second, but streets behind runaway leaders Cranbourne in the Mornington Peninsula Casey Cardinia Seniors table.

Following on from last week’s previews, Tallygaroopna predictably struggled against Violet Town, but a visit to winless Merrigum this Sat’dy keeps alive some hopes of finals participation in the Kyabram and District Football League.

In the always strong Ovens and Murray League, Albury are the 2011 pacesetters. They play cross-river foes Wodonga Raiders at the Albury Sportsground this Sat’dy and should win. Also in Albury, North Albury has a “derby” with Lavington at the Bunton Oval. Down the highway, the Wang Derby is being held on Sunday at Myrtleford.

The Hampden League certainly has a match to look forward to this Sat’dy. South Warrnambool have been dominant this season  and now they front local rivals and second team Warrnambool who loosened up with a 31-23 to 3-3 touch up of Port Fairy last week. Expect a big crowd and lots of passion at the Roosters’ home this week.

It’s getting to the “pointy end” for most comps.  It’s become a chore for some but really exciting for others. Four points can sway seasons’ hopes dramatically.

Savour the local flavour.

Hope you can get to the footy this Sat’dy.

 

Comments

  1. Dave Nadel says

    Check out B Grade of the EDFL as well. There are four teams equal top on 48 points and the three teams below them are also competitive. However whichever of the seven eventually gets promoted my mail is they will have trouble finding the money to compete in an A Grade full of highly paid AFL retirees and recent rejects.

  2. They can opt to stay down?

  3. scuse my ignorance Cli..err Crio, but the Wang derby in Myrtleford? Have I missed a flood or begorah, a club folding? I still think Rovers v Magpies whenever I hear Wangarattta [as well as that Capt Matchbox song, and the night many moons ago when the guy from Wang caught his mates spew in HIS tshirt so “spewer” wasnt ejected from the club]. On reflection its probably explains why I bypass Wang on my way to Bright!

  4. dunno Chalk. Ask Macca?

  5. Dave Nadel says

    Crio. I doubt that they can opt to stay down and I am sure that whichever team wins the flag will be keen to be promoted, but I doubt that they will be making long term plans about A Grade.

  6. What game are you going to this Sat’dy Dave?

  7. Skip of Skipton says

    When was the last time Spotswod missed the finals in the FDFL/WRL? I can’t recall it. They are the Man U of that comp.

    Jason Fastuca is already gone I believe. He was a gun with Werribee Centrals in the GDFL. Won a leaugue B&F, maybe more. Werribee is in no short supply of football clubs; a few like Glenorden seem to be fighting over the scraps for cattle.

  8. Crio,
    Divison 1 (i.e. D Grade) in the Ammos is very interesting at present. With 3 matches remaining, it looks like this:
    1. Banyule 15-0, 60 pts,
    2. Parkdale 10-5, 40 pts,
    3. Whitefriars 9-6, 36 pts,
    4. Williamstown 8-2-5, 36 pts,
    5. Peninsula 9-6, 36 pts,
    6. North old Boys 8-1-6 34 pts.
    Very tight battle for the final three spots behind Banyule.
    NOBs play the bottom 3 teams in the last 3 rounds so should make it.
    Friars play Peninsula in the last round in what may well be a mini elimination final.

    Tune in to 96.5 Inner FM at 10:10 am to hear me talk about this comp.

    Cheers
    Smokie

  9. Dave Nadel says

    Crio, I am down at St Leonards today and tomorrow. I will be watching the Pies on TV on Saturday night. Depending on the weather I am thinking about watching Queenscliff Coutas playing Torquay on Sat’dy arvo.

  10. What ground is that at Dave?

  11. Dave Nadel says

    Queenscliff Recreation Reserve. There hasn’t been a team at St Leonards for a couple of decades, so I have the choice between Portarlington Demons, Drysdale Hawks or Queenscliff Coutas (who wear Footscray jumpers) as my local Bellarine team. On the basis of guernseys Queenscliff looks the most attractive proposition. I haven’t yet made it to a game but I am detirmined to see the Coutas paly before the end of the season.

  12. Dave Nadel says

    paly is normally spelt play

  13. Dave Nadel says

    Went to see the Coutas play this afternoon. Really good footy match. The Queenscliff Barracoutas jumpers look like Footscray Jumpers on the front of which someone has drawn a very large fish. The Coutas are currently on top of the Football Geelong Bellarine ladder. Equal on points but ahead on percentage of Geelong Amateurs with whom they drew last week. The Game was at Queenscliff’s home ground at the bottom of Hesse Street, quite close to the lighthouse (and the sea, but everything in Queenscliff is close to the sea)

    The visiting side were the Torquay Tigers, fifth on the ladder but some games behind the top four. They were competitive for just over half the game. They kicked the first two goals of the third quarter which put them ahead by a couple of points. Then the Coutas kicked six unanswered goals and the game was over by three quarter time. The Coutas seemed a little bigger than the Tigers and they certainly outmarked them. I didn’t recognise the names of any of the players on either side although I suspect if I had followed the Geelong Falcons in the last decade I would probably have recognised quite a few.

    Depending on when Collingwood’s games are scheduled I will definitely try to get to a couple of the Coutas’ finals games.

  14. Skip of Skipton says

    Sounds like you had a great day Dave. Hope the Coutas can go the distance this year. It’s been a long time since they popped the champagne corks. 1977? The Geelong Amateur Slummers and the OG Grubbers are lurking as per usual. Looks a good betting race!

  15. local stalwart Macca questioned my nom of a Wang Derby in Myrtleford…”their grounds are across the road. Why would they go to Myrt?”. GVFL site supports the Myrtleford venue but provided no explanation. Any clues?

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