Cats fighting for form

EAGER TO BOUNCE BACK: Casterton Sandford’s Daniel Wombell and the remainder or the Cats’ lineup will be hungry for a win when they travel to Vansittart Park to face North Gambier tomorrow in Round 14 of Western Border football. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

CASTERTON Sandford will be out with a vengeance when it takes to Vansittart Park tomorrow for its Round 14 Western Border football meeting with North Gambier.

The Cats would no doubt prefer to forget the last two rounds of the competition, which saw them with their first two losses of the season.

The first came at the hands of East Gambier at the Cats’ beloved Island Park in Round 12, while the fresher wound was dealt by Millicent on the Saints’ home deck last week.

These results could be a dangerous sign for the Tigers, who have tasted limited success this year, as the Cats will surely be out for blood.

Just three minor round games remain and the Victorians will want to enter their finals campaign off the back of some consecutive wins.

Like most teams the Cats have dealt with a number of injuries over the season, but the past few rounds have seen them carry a heavier burden.

Trent Nesbitt will not take to the field again this year as he requires a knee reconstruction, while Josh Stephenson, Michael Cummings and youngster Todd Clode have also been sidelined in the last couple of rounds.

However, despite speculation, Cats coach Hamish Jarrad said these players should be back among the ranks in the upcoming weeks.

Last round against the Saints Daniel Richardson was taken off the field in the second term with a shoulder injury, but Jarrad said it appears to just be corked.

He will be put through a fitness test and should make his return either tomorrow or next week.

North has also had its fair share of injuries, with Brock Egan out for the season with a shoulder injury and Nick McInerney also stuck on the sidelines.

These are two major losses for the side and although the likes of Sam Stafford and Glen Soper have stepped up to fill the hole, tomorrow’s match will remain a big ask for the hosts.

Last week the Tigers claimed their third win for the season over South Gambier, which will see them go into this round with a boost in confidence.

Fraser Marshall led the way to top score for the match with four majors, while Soper and Will Stafford also made an impact with two each.

But it was the in-form Sam Stafford who was named best-on-ground, with his work both in the ruck and on the ball first class.

He will face up against Casterton Sandford’s Will Macdonald tomorrow, which will be the ultimate test for the rising Tiger.

Macdonald has had his own lingering injuries this season, but when fit he is dangerous against any opponent.

Last week saw him battle with Millicent’s Jonah Grimes following a week off against the Bulldogs the previous round and he is about due for another big game.

In the tough 36-point defeat against the Saints, it was Dylan Ayton who rose to the challenge.

He held firm in defence and created opportunities from turnovers and will want to carry that form going into tomorrow.

Daniel Wombwell was also strong in the backline, while Angus Cleary, Tom Sullivan and Aaron Nesbitt all performed well around the ground.

Callum Currie was quiet last week and will be eager to score a bag of goals, while youngster Tynan Shannon will want to back up his two-goal performance.

In a season which has caught tipsters off guard on more than one occasion, anything could happen tomorrow, but the Cats should redeem themselves with a solid victory.