Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MITIAMO will be striving to maintain its position in the top five when the Loddon Valley league begins its second half of the season on Saturday.
The Superoos sit in fifth position with a 4-4 record ahead of their away clash against Bridgewater.
Opportunity is knocking for the Superoos to potentially move two games clear inside the top five with a win that would also be a dagger to the finals aspirations of long-time power side Bridgewater.
But a defeat and the Superoos – who haven’t won at Bridgewater since they beat Calivil United there in the 2009 grand final – could slip to seventh, such is the logjam through the middle of the ladder.
“There’s no doubt it’s a big game. We give ourselves a good chance of playing finals if can win or we can fall back into the pack,” Mitiamo coach Andy Grant said on Friday.
Following a string of four losses in a row the Superoos have won their past two games against Inglewood and Marong to climb their way back into the top five.
A cornerstone of the Superoos’ season has been their defence, which is conceding an average of just 70 points per game.
“Our backline is our strength. Although we’re not kicking a lot goals we’re holding sides to not many,” Grant said.
“Once we straighten ourselves up in the forward line we think we’ll be thereabouts.”
Inaccuracy has plagued Mitiamo this season. The Superoos are converting at just 43.6 per cent – the only team in the competition at less than 50 per cent.
Of their eight games, only twice – against Calivil United (9.6) and Pyramid Hill (8.7) – have the Superoos kicked more goals than behinds.
“We’ve been working on our goalkicking, so hopefully, we can see that turnaround,” Grant said.
“We’ve been missing a lot of easy ones. Hopefully, we can kick a couple of early ones on Saturday and get that confidence up.”
The Superoos will be forced to play the remainder of the season without ruckman Nathan Twigg, who suffered a dislocated ankle last week.
• Saturday’s games – Bridgewater v Mitiamo, Maiden Gully YCW v BL-Serpentine, Pyramid Hill v Newbridge, Calivil United v Marong (at Raywood). Inglewood bye.
WEEKEND TEAMS
BRIDGEWATER v. MITIAMO
Bridgewater
B: J. Symons, D. Nalder, M. Bourke
HB: T. Nalder, J. McKinley, J. Rusbridge
C: A. Powell, A. Filippi, N. Jennings
HF: Z. Smyth, J. Metherell, L. Jacques
F: B. Galea, D. Clutton, L. Mangan
R: D. Harrison, K. Chant, T. Broadbent
Int: B. Rohde, Z. Hoiles, P. Rothacker, T. Estrada
Mitiamo
B: J. Wiegard, B. Bacon, T. Cocks
HB: L. Lougoon, M. Simpson, D. Clohesy
C: A. Benbow, T. Reeves, R. Reeves
HF: L. Drummond, T. Grant, J. Rozynski
F: N. Farley, M. Trewhella, I. Mathewson
R: M. I'Anson, L. Matthews, A. McKean
Int: S. Madden, J. Webster, B. Baines, J. Biddulph, B. Niemann
In: J. Biddulph, B. Baines, J. Webster
Out: N. Twigg, J. Twyford
………………………………...
CALIVIL UNITED v. MARONG
Calivil United
B: H. Miller, J. Somerville, J. Lea
HB: B. Rogers, A. Davis, S. Brinsmead
C: D. Rogers, V. Rodi, K. Padula
HF: L. McAllister, C. Smith, C. Sanders
F: A. Dennis , M. Magee, S. Pinnuck
R: C. Down, J. Lawry, K. Hoggins
Int: E. Ritchie, B. Fraser, L. Moss, J. Smith, D. Reid
In: J. Smith
Marong
B: P. Ryan, B. Quin, J. Ede
HB: B. Gray, D. Blume, B. Pollock
C: W. Gadsden, S. Harvey, P. Gretgrix
HF: B. Millar, J. Griffin, T. Wilson
F: L. Lee, C. Ross, C. Williamson
R: J. Hynes, B. Franzini, Z. Turnbull
Int: B. Pyper, L. Timms, T. Longford, T. Rhook
In: B. Pyper, T. Longford, P. Gretgrix, L. Timms
Out: J. Morrow, J. Fitzpatrick, C. Fleming, A. Collins
………………………………...
MAIDEN GULLY YCW EAGLES v. BEARS LAGOON SERPENTINE
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles
To be selected from
B. Graham, S. Turner, M. Walsh, H. McCartney, J. Robinson, C. Rohde, N. Waterson, J. Gurry, B. Aitken, S. Moyle, C. Kekich, N. McLaren, B. Riddell, L. Gray, E. Naylor, E. Naylor, T. Ferguson, M. Higgs, T. Harrington, J. Klemm, M. Collins, L. Ross, W. Mitrovic
Bears Lagoon Serpentine
B: J. Bish, D. Hayes, K. Paxton
HB: Z. Stone, J. Walsh, S. Bowles
C: J. Podosky, J. Laird, J. Murley
HF: J. Rippingale, A. Gladman, J. Walker-Corbet
F: B. McKinley, C. Gunn, B. Sheahan
R: N. Twigg, C. Gadsden, H. Gadsden
Int: A. Lewin, L. Murley, P. Hancock, J. Bailey
In: J. Walker-Corbet, Z. Stone, J. Bailey
Out: N. McNally, N. Arthur, O. Crilly-Downing
………………………………...
PYRAMID HILL v. NEWBRIDGE
Pyramid Hill
B: M. Bateman, D. Tonkin, B. Driscoll
HB: M. Klein-Breteler, R. Thiesz, A. Dobby
C: B. Goodwin, A. McErvale, G. James
HF: C. Milroy, S. Gunther, M. Cheesman
F: L. Lowndes, N. Fitzpatrick, R. Blake
R: A. Holland, B. Dalton, B. Micevski
Int: T. Smart, J. Woodward, G. James, T. Sala
Newbridge
B: B. Price, E. Coulthard, J. Cavallaro
HB: A. Farrow, R. Burt, J. Gilboy
C: J. Clark, W. Daly, B. Josey
HF: S. Kennedy, R. Ford, B. Comer
F: C. Dixon, C. Mclean, Z. Heaslip
R: T. Romeril, T. Horne, N. Bacon
Int: A. Fithall, B. Mustafa, A. Mayo, C. Toohey
In: R. Burt
Out: J. Fowler