Week Six Preview

With wet weather expected this weekend, the action across the OEFN competition is again expected to be filled with great contests.

The highlight of premier division is the Woori Yallock and Monbulk matchup while for Division One, Healesville v Emerald is expected to be a ripping contest.

The match of the round between Warburton Millgrove and Powelltown will no doubt draw big interest as the two sides battle it out on the football field and the netball court while it will be much the same for Kinglake and Yarra Junction.

The fixtures in the women’s football grade also has some ripping contests with Healesville hosting Upwey Tecoma, while Belgrave will finally get its chance to play again when they host Olinda Ferny Creek.

Check out the matchups ahead for this weekend with the week six preview here:

Premier Data Premier Division Football

Having played one another twice in season 2021, Pakenham will meet with Upwey Tecoma this weekend at Toomuc Reserve as the home side strive to continue its strong momentum they have built over the last three weeks. Jordan Stewart, Chris Cardona and Brenton Wells have all performed to expectations so far and will again be aiming to lead the Lions faithful to another strong performance. For Stuart Hill and his Tiger boys, win number two is high on the agenda if they are to stay in touch with the leading contenders in premier division and move up on the ladder.

Wandin and Officer will go head-to-head for the first time, with the Bulldogs going for its third win of the season while the Kangaroos are still chasing its first. Wandin have had a good start to the season but need to tidy up some areas of its game plan if they are to continue challenging the top sides in premier division. Its matchup against the Kangaroos this weekend is a good way to start this process. For the men of Cardinia Shire, a win is badly needed at this stage and will look to the likes of Ben O’Loughlin, Anthony Bernardo and Sean Roach to provide inspiration.

Another two clubs who will play each other for the first time in the senior men’s competition, the game between Mount Evelyn and Narre Warren is hoped to provide some good entertainment over at Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Yet to win a game this year, the Rovers will put in their best efforts to ensure they can have a good performance against the top placed side. For the Magpies after a week off, it’s all about continuing the strong momentum they have developed and challenge its players to have a go at multiple positions across the ground.

With four wins on the trot and undefeated to start the year, Woori Yallock will aim to continue its strong form in its matchup against Monbulk when they go head-to-head this weekend. For the Tigers who have been impressive thus far, Kody Busoli will be instructing his teammates to continue putting in their best efforts and not let its guard down when they play on its home deck. For the Hawks, they are out for redemption following a narrow two-point loss to Olinda Ferny Creek last week which could see this game played out in great spirit.

Karcher Premier Division Netball

Over at James Bathe Reserve, Pakenham Lions and Upwey Tecoma will go hard at it in expected pouring conditions as they strive for wins to remain competitive in season 2022. For the Lions, a first win went begging for them against Mount Evelyn last week despite a strong final quarter comeback and will be motivated by these events to try and get the better of the Tigers come Saturday afternoon. For the Tigers who have been competitive but not quite able to get the better of its opposition in tight games, a win against the bottom placed Lions will be high on the agenda, with the potential to move into fifth on the ladder following the completion of this weekend’s games.

Just as it is on the football field, Wandin and ROC will meet for the first time in a new rivalry which is sure to be a great contest at Wandin North Recreation Reserve. Both clubs have enjoyed great campaigns so far, with the Bulldogs in fourth and the Kangaroos in third on the ladder with three wins each. For the home side, they will be sure to not let a well-structured netball team get the better of them as they strive to snatch that third spot off them on the ladder. For the Kangaroos who have been brilliant in its first foray in premier division, they will look to start the new rivalry on strong terms with a win.

Fresh off the back of two wins in a row, Mount Evelyn are on a high and full of confidence as they look towards what’s to come for the remainder of its premier division campaign in season 2022. However, they will have to contend with the might of Narre Warren first, with the Magpies travelling to their home court this weekend. Under Kaitlyn Black’s guidance and strong goal shooting from Georgia Marsh in attack, the Rovers have a chance of being in touch with Narre Warren but will need to be on its toes and play to its very best if they are to pull it off.

Woori Yallock and Monbulk will meet again on the netball court for the first time in four years, with both sides keen to get a win over the other this week. With the match to be played in Healesville at Don Road Sporting Complex, the Tigers are still searching for its first win of season 2022 and hope to get an early jump over its opponent and keep its nose in front if they are to get the win. For the Hawks, who performed admirably last week but drew with second-placed Olinda Ferny Creek, they will be out for redemption in search of its second win.

Over in Cardinia Shire at Holm Park, Beaconsfield will meet with Olinda Ferny Creek and go for win number two of the year while the Bloods will be trying to bounce back from a shock draw to Monbulk last week. The Eagles have showed signs of competitiveness in 2022 but need to refine areas of their game plan if they are to take it up to the higher ranked teams in premier division, evident in its loss to Narre Warren last week. For the Bloods who are perhaps not quite at the top of its game, they will need to get back on track this week with this matchup.

Community Bank Division One Football

Full of confidence after getting its first win of the season last week against Yarra Glen at home, Berwick Springs will be out to make it two in a row when they travel to the Dandenong Ranges on Saturday afternoon to play Belgrave. With Daniel Ousley in full flight and in tandem with a spread of goalkickers including the likes of Kayden Buselli and Blake Simondson, the Titans will be bringing all their energies to the Graveyard to build some further momentum as they continue its development as a football club. Returning from a bye, many will be hoping for an improved effort from Belgrave this weekend as they continue with its development strategy.

Coming off a loss to Gembrook Cockatoo last week, Healesville will be gunning for a win on Saturday afternoon when they play Emerald who also experienced a loss to top-placed Seville in a tough match. With both sides evenly matched on paper and locked on 16 points apiece on the ladder, a win will provide the opportunity for one to get some clear air over the other and take second place outright. A winner is hard to pick at this point as both are really good with its execution and forward line delivery, which means senior coaches Dean De Munk and Sein Clearihan will be firing up their troops for this all-important clash.

A tough loss to Berwick Springs last week means Yarra Glen will be out to make amends when they host Gembrook Cockatoo on its home deck this weekend. The River Pigs without a doubt are under pressure to perform despite missing key players last week due to injury and will be hoping to put in a stronger showing when they host the Brookers. Struggling in the rain last week and inaccurate on the scoreboard, the Brookers managed to come away with a win against Healesville and in what is once again expected to be pouring conditions, they will be at least hope to convert better on the scoreboard.

Karcher Division One Netball

The matchup between Belgrave and Berwick Springs is expected to be a good one with the Magpies gunning for its third win of the season while the Titans are still chasing its first. Despite going down to Berwick last week, the Magpies will not be phased by this and will instead focus all their energies into exerting a good performance for the second game on its brand-new netball courts. Likewise for the Titans, who have had several player rotations through the A Grade side since the season’s commencement, they will put last week’s loss behind them and focus purely on this weekend instead.

In what appears to be an evenly matched contest and having won two games each, the matchup between Yarra Glen and Gembrook Cockatoo looks to be a great contest as both sides fight to move up the ladder in Division One. With Stephanie Gibbs and her teammates fit and firing against Berwick Springs last week, a win at home for the River Pigs is just what they need as they try their best to stay in touch with those above them on the ladder. For the Brookers, the mentality is much the same which makes this matchup an important one.

The matchup between first-placed Berwick and second-placed Seville is sure to generate great excitement, with both proving to be ultra-competitive and unbeaten so far. With the match to be played on the Blues’ home court, a winner is hard to pick at this point with the coaching influences of Carly McDonnell and Chloe Phillips each providing great benefits to their respective teams thus far. With Olivia Ray and Emma Clarke the sharpshooters for the Blues and the Wickers, they along with their teammates will be out to put in their best performances this weekend in what could very well be a preview of a potential finals matchup.

ATC Traffic Division Two Football

The match of the round contest between traditional Yarra Valley rivals of the eastern district, Warburton Millgrove and Powelltown, is expected to be an exciting game with both sides gunning for a win this Saturday afternoon for bragging rights over the other. It wasn’t so long ago that these sides met at the Demons’ home venue for a tight contest that went the way of the home side, courtesy of a goal after the siren to Joel Perry. The Burras, under the watchful eye of playing coach James Iacono and captain Tim McKail have been competitive in its outings so far and will be aiming to turn the tide against its opposition on its home deck. For the Demons, who have also been competitive, will do all they can to put a win on the board when they travel this week.

On top of the ladder after the first five weeks of competition, Kinglake will play Yarra Junction in what is also expected to be a competitive game between two quality outfits in Division Two. Yet to lose a game, the Lakers have executed its game plan brilliantly with captain Rohan King, Jed Tyrell, Matthew Coen and Riley Kennedy the standouts in all performances so far and will look to continue this again on Saturday afternoon. For the Eagles who have showed signs of great improvement since last season, a win on the road against the Lakers will go a long way to instil further belief into the squad for what they are capable of and will look to the likes of ball magnet Ewan Wadsworth, David Johnson and Sam Cannon for inspiration as they go for a competitive performance.

Karcher Division Two Netball

Just like their football partners, it was only one month ago when Warburton Millgrove and Powelltown last played each other with the result going the way of the Burras when they travelled to the Demons’ home deck on the road to Noojee. This time round, they will have the advantage of hosting the Demons on their home court and Nat Petrucev will be sure to have her squad of A graders fired up and ready for the contest. The Demons on the other hand, are experiencing a run of good form which makes this contest more exciting to watch for those in attendance, which also doubles up as the match of the round.

Grabbing its first win of the season against Yea last week, Kinglake will again be aiming for a competitive performance when they line up against Yarra Junction on its home court on Saturday afternoon. For the Eagles, who are fresh after a week off look to be the favourites at this point with the level of experience in its line-up that include the likes of Stacey Davis, Claire Spicer and Cara Moore who are expected to lead the way for them.

Disappointed after a narrow loss to Kinglake last week, Yea will put this behind them when they take on Alexandra who have experienced a wave of improvement this year in A Grade which has caused some surprise in the Division Two ranks. For the Tigers who would love nothing more than a win, Rhiannon Aldous will be instructing her players to put in their best efforts this weekend against the Rebels as they continue its development pathway with a young side. For the Rebels, a third win of the year will do a lot for their confidence and what they are capable of as we progress through the Division Two fixture.

Karcher Senior Women’s Football

Securing its third win of the season with an 84-point victory over Seville last week, Pakenham will be out to make it two in a row when they host Yarra Junction in a twilight fixture on Saturday afternoon. Growing in numbers since the start of the season, the Lions are really starting to show what they capable of now with the likes of Chloe Nagel, Bianca Moody and Melina Eppel leading the way for the Lions as they continue the pathway of improvement. For the Eagles who only kicked one goal last week, they will be hoping to put in a better performance at Toomuc Reserve in what can be described as a rematch from its contest in Round One.

With both sides yet to win a game, Thornton Eildon and Seville will finally get the chance to play each other this weekend in a contest where the two sides are evenly matched in terms of its development as football teams. With the match to be held at the Shinboners home ground, the match is expected to be filled with great excitement and the relevant coaches in Tash Hay and Geordie Scott will be sure to instil great belief in their sides to know they can get the job done.

Having only been able to take the field on two occasions, Belgrave will finally get an opportunity to play this weekend in what can only be described as great relief for the women of the Graveyard. However, they will have a tough contest on its hands with Olinda Ferny Creek keen to get another win on the board and continue its strong campaign. Fresh from a week off, the Bloods are re-energized and ready to go with Maddie Collins once again expected to rev up her side and go for victory. For the Magpies who are still relatively fresh in its 2022 campaign, the game against the Bloods will be a great test for them to see where they are at early in the season.

The matchup between Healesville and Upwey Tecoma is expected to be a great contest with both sides currently sitting in first and third on the ladder. For the Bloods who are undefeated, they will need to keep themselves honest if they are to continue its winning streak as Kiana Oates’ and the women of tigerland are a tough, well-structured football team and have proved to be a handful for their opponents to date.