By David Nagel
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
PREVIEW – ROUND 11
Right through the history of mankind have great challenges inspired great deeds and Berwick will hope to be inspired by the biggest challenge of its season when it takes on Cranbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Okay, the Wickers won’t be the first men into outer space, the first to climb Mt Everest, or even the first to run a four-minute mile – but in football terms … this is bloody important!
Get over the Eagles in this blockbuster Round 11 clash and the perfect season awaits.
“One of the things we’re most proud of this season is our away record,” said Berwick coach Stewart Kemperman.
“We’ve beaten Beaconsfield, Narre Warren and Doveton at their home grounds, so taking on Cranbourne at Cranbourne is sort of like our final frontier when it comes to the top teams in the competition. They’ll be much better than the last time we played them, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
That Round 2 engagement gave us the first real indication of just how good the Wickers could be. They blanketed the Eagles, suffocated them to the point where they could manage just three goals in a desperate three quarters of footy.
A storm rolled in, finishing the game at three-quarter time, the Eagles 47 points adrift.
“We don’t dwell on that performance too much,” said Cranbourne coach Simon Goosey.
“Yes they were too good for us on the day, there were no excuses, but it was a weird day, one side had the wind for three quarters.
“We’re obviously looking forward to the challenge, we’re in a good spot at the moment and we think we can turn that performance around. We played into their hands that day, our pressure and work rate was down and we know what we need to do to turn things around.”
The Wickers have been completely dominant against their fellow premiership contenders this year, conceding just 168 points in four matches against the competition’s elite.
Intercept marking machine Michael Riseley has been quite superb across half back; with Riley Heddles, Michael Johnson, Luke Sheppard and Ash Smith all adding a touch of class to the equation.
Throw in exciting youngster Will Arthurson, one of many new faces for the Wickers, and the defensive unit seems to have all bases covered.
“Will’s been fantastic, and the best thing about that is that all of our youngsters have genuinely earned their spots,” Kemperman said.
“I think we’ve had four debutants this year and every one of them has made a key contribution and brought a real buzz to the group. We shouldn’t underestimate what youth can bring to the table.”
The Wickers new faces include defender Arthurson, lively forward Trent Thomas and midfielders Bailey Asher and Jimmy Harrison, while Jarryd Trait has also made a mark in recent times.
Thomas has been super important up forward – filling the void left by the departure of Ben Kearns, Mitch Johnson, Luke Nelson and Mark Weekes.
The forward line restructure has been most impressive, with Thomas, Brody Connelly, Tim Gunn and Bryce Rutherford providing a plethora of options going forward.
“When players move on it provides opportunities for others and we’ve got some really talented players who are grasping that opportunity,” Kemperman said of his forward line.
“We’ve worked really hard at getting the right mix over the last few weeks and the team ethos they have down there is really shining through. Trent (Thomas) and Brody (Connelly) got the rewards last week but it could be someone else’s turn to bob up this week.”
Options are something you desperately need against Cranbourne, because a one-man reliant forward will be shut down instantly by champion defender Brandon Osborne. He seems to have been around forever, but doesn’t turn 25 until August and is still getting better.
It’s a scary proposition for forwards.
Stu Morrish has been an able ally for Osborne over the years, while recruits Brandon Wapshott and Jayden Sullivan has slotted into defence like a hand in a glove. Jordy Bertrand continues to emerge, while there’s something special happening with Dillan Bass.
He’s become more confident across half back, winning one-on-ones like Osborne and using his elite kicking skills to set up many thrusts from the back half. He’s become a really important player for the Eagles.
We could go on and on with the match ups, but the really exciting thing about this one is the contest, two great teams playing for pride in a rivalry that is building to a massive crescendo. One premiership each over the last two years, another grand final match-up looking likely, this is a rivalry that will stand the test of time.
It’s a rivalry built on great football, and developed over time with big hits, tribunal hearings, appeals, and a serious passion to defeat a respected foe.
From Madi Andrews to Mat Fletcher, from Luke Bee-Hugo to James Magner – it’s going to be a classic.
And the Eagles will deny the Wickers their shot at greatness with a thrilling two-point win.
Doveton and Pakenham will continue a growing tradition when they meet in the White Ribbon Round showdown at Robinson Oval.
The two clubs have shown massive respect for a brilliant cause, coming together to help prevent violence against women in the community. Doveton football manager and stand-in coach, Graham Henwood, said the club was proud to be involved in such a cause.
“Absolutely, over the last few years we’ve really embraced White Ribbon,” he said.
“It’s become quite a passion for people at our club like Steve Henwood and it’s a cause we take very seriously. Pakenham has also been terrific and it’s a connection we’re both very proud of.”
But the connection ends there, with both teams desperate to secure a crucial four points.
Henwood has really mixed things up in recent times, the move of Clayton McCartney to the back six one of the more inspirational moves of the season.
“I think it’s about looking at your strengths and understanding what each player can bring to the table,” Henwood said.
“Take a look at the two best teams in the competition, Berwick and Cranbourne, and the run they generate from half back. I just thought Clayton would be the perfect fit for that role and he’s been fantastic for a bloke who’s never played there before.”
Pakenham coach Ash Green has set his side some simple targets for the second half of the season.
“For us it’s about improving on our previous performances against each team,” Green said.
“We did that against Beaconsfield and now the big challenge is to do that again against Doveton. We’re playing with a lot of pride but we need to start thinking positively and getting some wins on the board.”
The Doves won their Round 5 clash against the Lions by 55 points and with Russ Gabriel, Sam Raru and Nick Battle in good form should get home by roughly five goals.
Beaconsfield will look to cap off a strong middle section of the season with a big win over Hampton Park at Robert Booth Reserve.
The Eagles have been the best defensive side in the competition over the first half of the season, conceding just 54 goals in eight games. The regular back six of Daniel Battaglin, Jake Bowd, Ryan Bromley, Kieren and Jordy Roberts and Corey Walker are justifiably proud of that achievement.
“Our backline prides itself on the fact that it’s one of the best defensive units in the competition, supported by our mids, and if the facts are there to support it then that’s fantastic,” Beaconsfield coach Leigh McQuillen said.
The Eagles have bounced back strongly from defeats against Doveton and Cranbourne, with McQuillen having mixed reactions to those losses.
“We were reasonably happy with our performance against Cranbourne, we stuck with them for three quarters before their talent and leadership probably took control in the end,” he said.
“We thought that was a step in the right direction but the loss to Doveton was very disappointing.”
There’ll be no disappointments here, despite the efforts of players like Harrison Paul, Josh Craig, Shaun Walsh and CJ Layfield the Redbacks are struggling at the moment and should brace themselves for another triple-figure defeat.
And Narre Warren begins a tough stretch of eight games in eight weeks with a visit from Officer at Kalora Park.
The Magpies have mixed their form of late but will be keen to bank four points ahead of a brutal three-week stretch that includes trips to Berwick and Beaconsfield, before a home-ground encounter with arch-rival Cranbourne.
The Magpies will need to win at least one those games to have a chance of finishing top three.
The home side has plenty to play for this week and players like Michael Collins, Col McNamara, Jace Kelly, Trent Papworth and Josh Tonna have been around long enough to know that a fast start could take a lot of heat out of the contest which could prove crucial over the next month of footy.
Mat Jones and Matt Clarke are trying hard for the Kangas but are carrying too many passengers of late. Without a lift in intensity the Kangas will fall to a 46-point defeat.
Tooradin-Dalmore has the bye.
