For at least one Saints side, it will be heaven

Creswick v Carngham-Linton

CELLAR dwellers go to battle in the Central Highlands Football League with one of the competition’s winless sides expected to get on the board for the first time in season 2022.

The Wickers were embarrassed by Bungaree on the weekend failing to even kick a single goal.

Meanwhile the other Saints, Carngham-Linton, had the bye and to date even though on paper go in as the slight underdogs they have looked the better side this year and in theory should walk away with the points.

Prediction: Carngham-Linton in an upset.

 

Ballan v Bungaree

Just inside the competition’s top eight Bungaree will get another percentage booster when they travel to play the Blues this weekend.

The Demons won by 145 points on the weekend and considering Ballan’s recent run of form, it will be expected to be another landslide.

Prediction: Bungaree comfortably.

 

Daylesford v Beaufort

The Doggies rollercoaster must be so frustrating for Daylesford fans with their best actually not that bad but their very worse amongst the worse footy in the entire competition.

That inequality was highlighted on the weekend where one of the flag favourites Springbank smashed them by 108 points.

They host a Crows outfit looking to make it five in a row with the result in this one determined by which Doggies side decides to show up this weekend.

Prediction: Beaufort by 24 points.

 

Learmonth v Rokewood-Corindhap

Despite being ninth on the ladder, many pundits have seen the Lakies as the big improvers in season 2022 with another honourable loss on the weekend to Skipton, showcasing how far Nick Willox chargers have come.

However, a club can only take so many honourable losses in a season, and tough test in the Hoppers await after Rokewood hit a little speed bump on the weekend in of form of Dunnstown.

Show be a good indicator on how fair dinkum either side is about finals footy here.

Prediction: Rokewood-Corindhap in a tight one.

 

Waubra v Skipton

After a mass exodus of players in the off-season, credit to Waubra for finally getting on the winner’s list on the weekend with Hayden Hughes seven goals steering them to victory over Clunes.

They host a Skipton outfit desperate to build towards another finals campaign in the Central Highlands Football League after their resurgence up the ladder in recent seasons.

The class of Sam Willian, Jack McClure and Jack Peters have been a focal point of the Emu’s success and will be well matched in the midfield by the likes of James Lukich, Tom Nash and Darcy Jenkins in the Roos engine room.

Prediction: Skipton by 15 points.

 

Newlyn v Clunes

Both sides are struggling with Newlyn’s catastrophic drop highlighted by a 100-point spanking from Hepburn on the weekend.

They host a Maggies outfit that is terribly out of form and dream of finals footy already starting to fizz.

It won’t be a pretty game but a victory for either side is desperate if they want to get their respective seasons on track.

Prediction: Newlyn in a flip of the coin.

 

Buninyong v Hepburn

With only two wins from their first five the Bombers season won’t get any easier as the red hot Burra looks to claim another victim.

Hepburn are back inside the competition’s top four with the fresh legs of McKay brothers and the ever-dangerous Mitch Banner licking their lips at the prospect of derailing a side’s season that they have been fighting for top four spot over the past decade.

Prediction: Hepburn by 40 points.

 

Dunnstown v Springbank

Match of the Round with fifth hosting the undefeated top placed Tigers in what will be Springbank’s first real challenge of the season.

An inaccurate Towners were far too good for challengers, Rokewood-Corindhap, with their great start to the season highlighted by the rise of such players as Flynn Stevenson who put together his third best on ground performance this year.

The Tigers smashed Daylesford, and again Connor Parkin was the catalyst in victory with five goals in his very own best on ground performance.

With both sides flying, it comes down to something as simple as goal kicking which hasn’t been the Towners forte to date; however, their ability to absorb pressure is far greater than Springbank’s, so this one is going to be going down to the wire.

Prediction: too close to call!