After the weather has blown straight through us during our association matches last week, there appears to be a calmer weekend in store this weekend.
Firstly congratulations to Eastern Eyre for taking out the interleague trio round robin match in Wudinna against Mid West and Far West, and also well done to Port Lincoln for getting over Great Flinders in their Centenary celebration match. Get the results on the website.There are some great clashes in the local leagues as we return to normal again this week, to see the Mid West, Eastern Eyre, Far West and Port Lincoln Leagues or netball scroll below, but Great Flinders you're up first.
Thank you also to Sally McClure for sending in this great image of the guernsey's on her clothes line after doing the washing for Broken Hill's Central Magpies under 6 side.
Here we are at game five, which is the local derby of neighbour pitted against neighbour, cousin against cousin and it's the end of our first round of three games for the season - that's right, we're already a third of the way done!
Cougars out: Luke Turnbull (sick), Corey Turnbull (cracked ribs),
Cougars in: Brad Hazelgrove (strained calf missed Assoc), Sam Ness (?) Dale Bache, Ben Green.
Magpies out: Adam Haarsma, Ben 'Ballb' Franklin,
Magpies in: Jimmy Bascomb (A Grade debut originally from Elliston), Tom Haarsma.
What Emma reckons: As most of us know this is the Grand Final replay with both sides undefeated for the season to date so it's bound to be a blockbuster. Not to mention the close to 100 years of strong competitive history between the two that will have the blood-pumping through the screaming supporters on the sidelines.
To be honest from what I've seen this year, I don't reckon it's going to be as close as what some people are saying. When I saw Cougars play a few weeks ago, they didn't seem to have the fitness through the mid-field to keep up with the Blues youngsters - maybe they just didn't want to hurt the young lads, it just seemed like they were outrun a little. Saying that, when there was a sniff that the opposition was coming back Cougars would regroup and get the footy from the centre into the goals in around 30 seconds, which is what you want your team to do.
Still on the red and black we hope that strained calf that kept Hazelgrove out of the Centenary Association side last week is 100 per cent because Cougars can't afford to lose a player early in the game - or another forward (lost Landon Gregory in game 3 with serious hamstring).
In the Ramblers camp, what I saw in game two was like watching a slick unit perform in late August.
Their midfield of Scott 'Jock' Blacker George 'Pigdog' Pedler and Hayden 'Parks' Parker was fast and most importantly accurate and well fed by ruck James 'Spider' Minhard.
Their defensive line of last week's medal winner Tyson 'Rooster' Mickan, James 'Flog' Pedler, and Henry Zwar was almost impossible to penetrate. And their forward line contained talls who could take strong overheads (Jim 'Goldie' Holman), as well as the short and sneaky crumbing types (Shawn 'Bunga' Fitzgerald).
I guess it's who wants it more today.
I'm going with Ramblers to win by three goals.
Roos out: Zac Tiller (knee), Clint Beard (wedding), Kane Tiller (wedding).
Roos in: Saxon Kay, Chris 'Crispy Biscuit' Pearce, Alistair 'Stairs' Pearce, Gary Gaz Hetzel, Josh Dearman, Travis Beard (16 years old), Brodie Burrows, Scott Reynolds.
Eagles has no changes.
What Emma reckons: The Eagles have got two wins on the board and as sad as it is to predict this early, after today they're going to have three. The Eagles youngsters we've seen on the paddock week after week seem to have grown into men in the off-season and they're fielding what seems to be an early twenties team who have mature football brains, together with seriously talented older blokes who have taught the young ones all they know.
Lock can't win a trick at the moment with injury and if they can only return to the team they fielded against the Blues in round 1, they'd be back on track. But they're still a competitive side with a lot of heart and best of luck to their young ones out there today.
Also congratulations to Eagles Kade Dufek and Holly Turner who have recently announced their engagement.
Saints out: Tate Garnaut (Bs)
Saints in: Karl Pfitzner
Blues out: Jack Gerrie (sick), Addison 'Addo' Lands, Ricky Clark, Shaun Letton, Jordy Allen, Tom Gent, Sam Harris, Tyson Gerrie (all into B Grade).
Blues in: Craig 'Ferret' Curtis, Sammy Read, Tyson 'Crossy' Cross (shoulder), David 'Butts' Butler, Aaron 'Gatesy' Gates, Josh 'Yoshi' Cave, Jacob 'Gearbox' Cave, Daniel 'Dangas' Lockwood.
What Emma reckons: Both the Saints and the Blues are sitting with one win apiece for the season and want this to change.
The Saints will be itching to get the points from their neighbours but the Blues have bolstered their stocks and an incredible eight back from injury, including two who wore the trio of stripes for the Sainters last year (Gatesy and Butts) will make them the formidable opponent.
It's impossible to talk about the Blues without mentioning the stellar efforts being served up by their young lads week after week this season - Luke Wilkins and Will Nankivell are just hitting that late secondary school footy fitness that we see over the years and as a spectator, it's great to watch their confidence grow.
The return of the lost forward Sammy Read for the Blues will open up options in their forward line - something that's been lacking over past weeks with a lot of the pressure landing on the often double-tagged Chris Prime.
Despite what the percentage difference on the ladder is some years, the Blues and the Saints always have a great game. The good thing for the Saints is that with a win on the board this year, they will remember how good it feels to be winners - and they might just want it more.
After seeing Sainter Joseph Burgoyne in action for the maroons last weekend I now know what their supporters have been buzzing about.
If Jordy Telfer has recovered 100 per cent from the injury that kept him out of the Centenary side last weekend, then he, Burgoyne and Brad Foster could combine to do some damage. If they can get the ball through the Cave men and into the arms of Denis Males we'll be in for a cracker.
But with all the returnee's I'm going to go with the Blues to take it by 8 points.
Don't forget if you're passing through Lock on Sunday to pull over for an hour and check out the netball action taking place at the Eyre Regional Netball Carnival.
The best netballers from all Associations across Eyre Peninsula will be playing a Under 13s, Under 15s, Under 17s and A Grade competition.
Brooke Neindorf tells us that an A Grade Top Twelve of the Carnival will be picked to play in a round robin with State League teams Contax and Tango early next season.
Best of luck to all competitors.
Game of the round - Wirrulla Vs Wudinna United @ Wirrulla
Western Districts Vs Central Eyre @ Minnipa
West Coast Hawks Vs Elliston @ Streaky Bay - but word is that Elliston has forfeited the A Grade and B Grade because a wedding in Port Lincoln is happening that most of the players are invited to this weekend.
Struggling with B Grade numbers too, a number of footballers have left the district and others have been picked up by other clubs.
Game of the round: Cowell Vs Ports @ Cowell
Cleve Vs Rudall @ Cleve
Kimba Districts has the bye (more work on their new clubhouse?)
Game of the round - Koonibba Vs Westies
Blues Vs Thevenard @ Smoky Bay
Game of the round - Boston Vs Mallee Park @ Poole
This is my game of the week, due to tensions from previous meetings (bit of biff) and also for the fact that Ky Miller is now playing for the Tigers, he should see some close attention from his former team mates.
Wayback Vs Marble Range @ Centenary
Tasman Vs Lincoln South @ Ravendale
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