WESTERN Border football throws up three more intriguing match-ups this weekend, with the North Gambier v Casterton Sandford the match of the round.
Played at Vansittart Park tomorrow, the game promises to be a blockbuster, with the Cats gunning for the top of the ladder, while the Tigers would surely love to escape the bottom rung.
So far North has tasted no joy this season, while the Cats remain undefeated after their two hit outs, with the most notable the win last week over reigning premier East Gambier.
To the Tigers’ credit, their first half against the Bulldogs back in Round 1 showed glimpses of the clinical style of football they play, but East came out after half time and blew them out of the water, closing a big margin and eventually winning by 20 points.
In contrast, the Cats held the upper hand over the Bulldogs last week, with East only on top in the final term, but unable to close the gap on that occasion.
North is suffering from injury woes this week, with Jordan Hatt, Nick Morretti and Mikey Telford all out of the lineup, which makes for a tough day at the office.
After last week’s performance, if the Cats can field a full side, they should be in the box seat to claim the victory.
Coach Hamish Jarrad has his charges well drilled and disciplined, playing good football that can stand up to any pressure.
The likes of Dylan Ayton, Callum Currie, Josh Stephenson and Billy Galpin move the ball around well, aided by the strong ruck performance of Will Macdonald.
Last week saw Ayton and Currie with three goals each, while a few others put their hands up to bag majors on a tough day for straight kicking.
In contrast it was not all happy hunting North Against Millicent, going down on their home ground to the hungry Saints.
However, while the lineup this week is somewhat depleted, there are still plenty of capable goal kickers and runners in the side.
Tom McLennan provides a good target up forward, along with the likes of Dylan Munn and Will Stafford further out.
Nick Blachut is always capable of turning a game on hits head with his explosive pace, along with Brock Egan and Fraser Marshall.
Down back the likes of Tim McInerney and Sam Egan will certainly have a big job to hold down such a versatile forward pack, but the Tigers have stood the test of time and still have the ability to do so.
You have to think it is just a matter of time before it all clicks into place and North returns to its best.
Any side that takes the Tigers early-season slump in form for granted leaves itself open for a hard and fast lesson, which the Cats are sure not to do.
With East hosting South Gambier at McDonald Park tonight and the Saints at home to West Gambier tomorrow, the Tigers v Cats is the only Saturday game in Mount Gambier.
For those wanting to see an entertaining contest, it will certainly be worth the trek down to Vansittart Park.
All being said, the Cats could well run away with this game, but I consider at home, with a win a must for the Tigers even at this early stage of the season, it will be a close contest, albeit with the visitors heading back across the border victorious.
