ROSEDALE will tomorrow host Glengarry, the only side to so far defeat the North Gippsland ladder leader.
The Magpies will be confident of their chances of another win against the Blues following their gutsy 48-point victory over Cowwarr, which all-but guarantees a top five finish.
With a finals berth close to being locked away, the Magpies will focus their attention on halting the Blues’ winning streak of eight games.
Claiming victory in round four with a five-point thriller, the result was even more impressive given the Magpies were missing a number of key players, including Robbie Cahill, Josh King and Aaron Winkler, who was a casualty during the contest. With the trio playing a major role in the side’s results in past weeks, the Blues could meet their match.
But Glengarry can’t afford to be complacent, as Rosedale has been one side which has proven to be the thorn in its side as the Blues’ pacey midfield has consistently provided headaches for the Magpies.
Players from Rosedale’s 1962 premiership team will be in attendence for their 40-year reunion.
BOTTOM-placed Woodside will host eighth-placed Boisdale-Briagolong, with Wildcats coach Luke Anedda confident they can break through for their opening win.
“We hope it’s the week. We have been working towards it and although the scores on the weekend gone were pretty ordinary and not flattering at all, we hope that if we put in a good showing that we can get the win,” Anedda said.
“We were pretty average on the weekend, we had players pull out on the Friday and then before the match which included a couple of our better players.
“It has been a tough month, we have met TTU, Glengarry and the reigning premiers in past weeks and it makes it hard to get the boys up and about.”
It has been a tough initiation to the senior coaching ranks for Anedda, but he is philosophical on the season to date.
“We have definitely improved in patches, but with players in and out of the side it has made it very hard for the younger guys to adjust to playing different positions each week,” he said.
“There are areas where we have improved, but we still struggle to get a score on the board which sees us being flogged each week. Looking at it, it has been tough but there has been improvement.
“On the weekend the kids came up against a quality side and learned where we need to be at. The more games they get under their belt the better that they will become.
“There have been some big improvements by several players, we haven’t necessarily made huge progress as a team but players such as Ryan Foat and Daniel Missen have stood up and are really playing some great footy.”
IN other matches, Heyfield will test the resolve of Churchill, whose win over Gormandale kept it in touch with the top five, Cowwarr will aim to rebound from last week’s loss and keep its finals hopes alive against Sale City, who is coming off a devastating performance, and Gormandale will host a rebounding Traralgon-Tyers United.
For more read Friday’s Gippsland Times.
