by Nicholas Duck
The bye round is officially over, meaning the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition is back this week and with just six rounds left in the home and away season every game counts for that much more. Here's how this round is shaping up.
2pm start for all matches.
Garfield vs Warragul Industrials
Location: Garfield Recreation Reserve
Fresh off their biggest win since joining the competition, the Warragul Industrials will be out for more blood this week against a struggling Garfield.
The importance of the Dusties' pre-bye upset win over Phillip Island cannot be overstated, as it now has the club two wins clear in sixth and in pole position to not only make finals, but to know they can cause some damage to anyone they meet.
They'll need to continue showing the ferocious defensive pressure they applied against the reigning premiers of course, but if they can continue that attack and drive all the way through to the end of the season they could potentially make some sides around them very nervous come the end of the year.
Still, they're not there yet and will need to keep ticking off the boxes as they come, and there aren't many games they should be more confident of doing that in than this one.
Garfield's year has been nothing short of terrible, as their pre-season exodus of senior talent has left them bereft of genuine match-winners on the ground. They currently sit at the bottom of the ladder with not a win to their name.
The Stars have had precious few genuine chances to register that first victory, with just two of their 12 losses being by fewer than 40 points.
And with them now having to face a Dusties side that has started to understand just what they're capable of, the chances of the Stars stealing the four points here seems minimal.
The Warragul Industrials should win this one, and barring some overconfidence getting in the way should win handily.
Bunyip vs Nar Nar Goon
Location: Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Bunyip probably didn't want to find themselves in this position. Having entered the season with hopes of making a finals appearance, the Bulldogs find themselves two wins outside the top six and losing contact with the upper echelon fast.
They wouldn't have counted on their nearest rival, the Warragul Industrials, knocking off second-placed Phillip Island pre-bye, but now it means that if thy want to make it Bunyip will have to claim some serious scalps, and fast. The question remains whether or not they're capable, as they've been able to pretty easily see off some of the teams below them but when they've come up against sides made of tougher stuff the Bulldogs have been found wanting.
Their last match did show some promise, as they were able to match it with the very much in-form Cora Lynn for long stretches of time, but the fact remains they didn't get the job done.
Of course, if they want to take some big wins, they can stark this week with Nar Nar Goon.
The Goon have enjoyed a solid year thus far, knocking off all the teams below them, usually with ease. Dermott Yawney currently leads the league's goalkicking, and they are hardly lacking for depth in other areas of the field.
But it's been when Nar Nar Goon faces the teams above them that issues have started to present themselves, as all three of the Goon's losses have been to the teams sitting in first, second and third respectively.
Still, they've repeatedly shown they've got what it takes to win the games they're favourites in, and this one should prove no different.
Nar Nar Goon to win.
Dalyston vs Koo wee rup
Location: Dalyston Recreation Reserve
Now three wins outside the top six, it would appear making an unlikely finals appearance has finally become too difficult for Koo wee rup. They're still a chance mathematically at least, but in footy once you start talking about mathematical possibilities it usually means it's not going to happen.
Still, the Demons have had plenty to like this season as they've blooded a number of youngsters that they hope will play key roles in taking the club forward for years to come.
Now it's all about pride, something they have in common with their opponents this week in Dalyston.
It's been another tough year for the Magpies, who have had their fair share of rough times recently. The cameo appearance by Shaun Burgoyne last month brought some much-needed joy to the club, but given that game has been their only win in nine weeks reality seems to have set back in for the team, who were thoroughly outplayed by Kilcunda Bass before the bye.
Dalyston's lack of overall talent, particularly in the forward line, has left them vulnerable to multiple thrashings this year, and the early loss of Adam Amin certainly hasn't helped this fact.
The Magpies will take some confidence out of the fact that they led the Demons late into their last meeting back in round one before letting the game slip, but unless something drastic changes they probably won't have the capacity to do that again.
Koo wee rup to win.
Inverloch-Kongwak vs Korumburra-Bena
Location: Inverloch Recreation Reserve
Things certainly aren't coming easily to Korumburra-Bena. Having already had to endure a season so poor the club has begun talks to switch leagues, the Giants' last two matches have been 160+ point losses against second and first on the ladder respectively. And now, they have to play the side in third.
Korumburra-Bena have been cursed by injury more than most in the competition this year, but even when they have their best players on the field it's generally made little difference. The Giants have lost four matches by 100 points or more so far, and unless something changes they're staring down the barrel of another one this week.
Inverloch-Kongwak have made a real habit of destroying the sides below them on the ladder, and though they've stumbled against the likes of Tooradin-Dalmore and Phillip Island they still remain one of the most dangerous teams in the league, boasting a wealth of talent all around the field.
The last few weeks have been a little more challenging though, as while they've won their past five matches, some of them were a little close for comfort.
In fact, just before the bye, the Sea Eagles were given a bit of a scare by Koo wee rup. They got the win there by 17 points, but given their previous penchant for punishing poor teams, it was definitely a more stressful game than they may have anticipated.
Regardless, the current form of Korumburra-Bena shouldn't present those same issues and Inverloch-Kongwak should expect to win big in this one.
Phillip Island vs Cora Lynn
Location: Cowes Recreation Reserve
Having now won seven straight, the Cora Lynn fans remember is back in business as they travel down the road to try and keep the streak, and their climb up the ladder, alive.
Five losses in a row certainly wasn't the start to the season the Cobras envisioned, but with multiple players returning from injury including star forward Nathan Gardiner, things have clicked into place for the team. They've managed to push their way up into fifth spot, and though they remain two wins behind Nar Nar Goon in fourth if they keep racking up the wins there's no telling where they might finish and what kind of damage they could do come finals time.
This week, however, will be the biggest test for their newfound form so far.
Phillip Island were shocked pre-bye by the Warragul Industrials, having wasted their opportunities in the first half before being totally outworked and outplayed in the second.
It was a very un-Phillip Island like performance, but nobody needs to be told that they still have the talent needed to bounce back.
The loss does create another hole in the seemingly unbeatable aura the Bulldogs have cultivated over the years, and having now been dismantled twice this year other sides will be undoubtedly looking at the Bulldogs as gettable.
Still, playing at home this week it's difficult to see Phillip Island losing two in a row. This is a bit of a tough one to tip, especially since these two have had some titanic battles in recent years, but the Bulldogs should get the job done and end the Cobras' impressive streak.
Tooradin-Dalmore vs Kilcunda Bass
Location: Tooradin Recreation Reserve
We're officially 12 rounds deep into the season and the opportunities to beat Tooradin-Dalmore are becoming more and more scarce with each passing week.
The Seagulls have seen off every challenger that's come their way, with their smallest win still being by a decent 32 points. They're a side blessed with stars on every line, including a forward line with three players in Stewart Scanlon, Brad Butler and Blake Grewar who could all be the number one spearhead on most other teams in the competition.
They're near unbackable favourites for the premiership at this stage, which spells trouble for their opponents this week in Kilcunda Bass.
The Panthers have enjoyed some strong form of their own in recent weeks, having won their last four games straight. It's been an especially impressive run for a side that managed just the one win in their first eight weeks of the year.
Where there previously was a lack of cohesion on the field for Kilcunda Bass, suddenly the side looks to be on the same page and it's paid dividends.
It should be noted, however, that while the first win in that streak was against seventh-placed Bunyip, the three after were against the bottom three teams on the ladder.
It means that this week will be an entirely different prospect for the Panthers, and not one they're likely to come out on top of.
Tooradin-Dalmore to win, and win easily.