Cats face undefeated Eagles, Tigers travel to Traf in top four battle to headline Round 7 of EDFL

Ellinbank v Neerim Neerim South
Game of the round this week and one the Cats will want to hit the scoreboard more in, their forward line far too talented to be held to three goals like last game.

They will be missing Tom Crole however, the young gun called back by Gippsland Power this week.

Kody Wilson and Tom Muir have stood out so far this season, but they’ll need more support week in week out. Key back Tim Beaurain has been a force for the Cats and will need to be again coming up against the in form Eagles’ forwards. 

What else can be said about the Eagles so far in 2021. They’re flying. They sit on top of the ladder undefeated and will head into Saturday a side brimming with confidence.

The return of Ben Wragg to the line-up has only strengthened the team, the coach booting seven goals in his last two games. Prized signing Nathaniel Paredes inclusion is also on the horizon, the midfielder tipped to make his season debut in the coming weeks.

The emergence of Bryce Joyce in the backline has been a bonus and he’ll have his hands full with Tyssen Morrow and Chris Urie up forward for the Cats. 

It’s a real test for the ladder leaders, despite what the standings might say. Neerim play a tough brand of footy and on their day, use the ball superbly. The midfield battle will be the big one, with Kody Wilson and Mick Urie possibly going head-to-head in what will be a great match up.

Expect Neerim to come out firing at home and the league knows they’re capable of an “upset” per se, but Ellinbank will want to make sure they meet Trafalgar in Round 8 unbeaten. An interesting matchup and one that could go down to the wire.

Trafalgar v Lang Lang

Haven’t the Tigers hit a purple patch? Sitting fourth on the ladder, Lang Lang are really proving to be a problem this season. 

This week, they’ll face one of their biggest tests yet when they travel to take on the undefeated Bloods, without coach Josh Collie.

Collie’s shoulder injury will keep him out this week and possibly more and will test the depth of the side. Tyler Guan will also miss the clash through injury. 

The Tigers have made a few changes, with Liam Sumner headlining the ins after recovering from an ankle injury and Liam O’Connor and Aaron Rose returning to the team. 

The injection of Daniel Lewis into the forward line has given them a lift and there’s no doubt his presence will again be felt on Saturday.

Trafalgar’s stoic backline will have their hands full, with Lewis averaging 4.75 goals a game in his first four outings for Lang Lang. Joseph Dalgleish has been in brilliant form, as has Luke Collie and they’ll need to fire again if the Tigers are going to make it three on the trot. 

The Bloods couldn’t have asked for a better start to their EDFL journey. Both the seniors and reserves sit 5-0 and have shown the depth of their squad with the changes made last week.

Keegan Tullett slotted into the senior line-up and provided the last quarter spark with two sensational goals to break the Magpies’ spirits.

Trafalgar may also possess the biggest weapon in the league, Dylan Farrell. 

Farrell has been completely dominant and has stamped himself as one of the premier rucks of the competition, if not one of the premier players. He’ll have another big say on Saturday.

The two Van Schajik’s will miss, with both Dave and Matt out injured, with Hayden Brock and Josh Moore in to replace the duo.

The Tigers are capable, but the loss of Collie will hurt and with the form that Trafalgar are in, we might see two undefeated teams at the top of the table go head to head in Round 8 at Ellinbank. 

Buln Buln v Yarragon

What a difference a couple of weeks make. Buln Buln were on the canvass at 0-3 and staring down the barrel of 1-4 if they fell to Longwarry, but they rallied to cause the upset of the season so far.

Coach Michael Kreun said he’s always had belief in his team and now they’ve got the confidence they can beat anyone on the day. 

Jake Herbel has strung together two scintillating performances as a utility, the luxury of throwing him forward last week something Kreun may dig deeper into down the track.

Sean Symes held leading goal kicker Jason Wells goalless and has shown he can stick with the best in defence, while Luke Fusinato and Reece Campbell have given Kreun no choice but to keep them in the senior side after jumping up from the twos earlier in the year, both putting together a strong fortnight. 

The barometer is Matt Gray, he’s featured in the best every week so far and now his team is ticking along, he’ll be full of confidence ready to give his midfielders first use on Saturday, stability now a big part of the side, going into the game unchanged. 

It’s been a tough year so far for Yarragon. They’re young and losing captain Mitch Jolly for the year was a huge blow before Round 1. 

However, they’ve blooded a few players and that can only be seen as a positive for the side.

Declan O’Donnell has been brilliant in the last fortnight, as has Devon Pollock, the Panthers maybe just needing a bit of luck to break their losing streak. 

They’ll be at home and while they’ll need a big effort to upset Buln, it’s not off the cards.

Daniel Burke and Dylan Binzer played their first games and fared well, with Tom Follett needing to be a big factor for the Panthers on Saturday if they are to win.

Poowong v Nyora

Injuries, injuries, injuries. That’s the main story at Poowong. They suffered a few more on Saturday with Micky Vamplew to miss six weeks with a fractured finger and Tom Robertson set for some surgery on a knee.

They will regain playing coach Chris Doria for this game which now is a must win after dropping their last two. 

Jack Hazendonk showed why he’s a two-time league best and fairest winner last week, almost dragging his side back from 30 points down at halftime in a quality display, one they’ll need again from him.

Despite hurting his knee last week, Nick Visser will line up for the Magpies, who will need a lot from guns Pat Harmes, Conor Cunningham and forward Trevor Hooker to make sure they’re back on the winners’ list.

Nyora have shown they’re capable of an upset. Generally, they’ve played some solid quarters of footy, just late lapses costing the side. 

Coach Dylan Heylen has been leading from the front, his effort unquestionable over the past month and is one of the main keys for the Saints if they are to win.

They showed some fight out of halftime on Saturday and got themselves back into the game, something they’ll want to dig into again this week against Poowong at home.

It wasn’t all that long ago that Nyora were the yardstick of the competition, so expect them to fight and show they can shake up the league, maybe looking to take advantage of an injury hit Poowong. 

Longwarry v Catani

Longwarry will be hoping to move past last week’s shock loss to Buln quickly when they take on Catani at home. 

The Crows will be without league leading goal kicker Jason Wells who will miss after being reported last week. Kane Oldham and Ben McKenna will be right to return for the match after recovering from concussions. 

Tye Holland has been a nice addition to the side up forward and will need to be on song this week with Wells missing, while Jackson Caddy will come up against his former side after switching back to the Crows a few weeks back. 

Riley Rundell will return after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, bringing some pace into the Longwarry side, with Nathan Fry and Russ Lehmann both out. 

They’ve taken a few hits so far this season Longwarry and now find themselves sitting at 3-3 and in fifth spot, with Neerim Neerim South breathing down their neck.

Good sides find a way however and expect the Crows to fight back strong this week, despite missing a plethora of players, a few targeting returns after next week’s bye.

The Blues are fresh off a week away and it may help them from their final quarter fadeouts.

They often start well and lead their opposition, but the second half can be their let down.

After a terrific win in round one over Buln, the Blues have seen four straight defeats, something they hope to change this week.

The Crows will go in favourites, but Catani have shown they can hang with teams.

Despite being just 1-4, they will command some respect from the reigning premiers and maybe even fancy themselves to cause an even bigger upset than Buln did last week.

Coach Dan Barrand turned in a best on ground performance to lead his side last game and they’ll lean on his experience and talent again.

Brett Williams will be the leader in the midfield against the likes of Oldham and Bailey Stephens, with Mitch Latimer, Brad Adams and Cody Banbury needing big games to power the Blues over the Crows.