James Murphy
EAST Gambier hosts Casterton Sandford in tomorrow’s only Western Border match-up in the Blue Lake city.
The Round 3 fixture is split due to the Anzac Day clash between South and North on Monday, while Millicent hosts West Gambier up at McLaughlin Park.
That leaves McDonald Park as the one-stop shop for football action in Mount Gambier this weekend.
Both the Bulldogs and the Cats enter the round off losses in Round 2, at the hands of South Gambier and Millicent respectively.
They will be eager to kickstart their campaigns with a win following the Easter break and a close clash could unfold.
East has shown positive signs and while it succumbed to both North and South in the first two rounds, should not be ruled out of the fight on its home deck.
Co-coaches Jayden Eldridge and Matt Scanlon will continue to lead by example, while Sam and Shaun Lock have been in solid form.
Luke Johnston popped up with a couple of goals last round, while Giancarlo Cooper can always be relied on to create excitement in the forward line.
Last round saw Mark Rumbelow return to the side following an absence in the season opener and the Bulldogs will be keen to have him make an impact in front of goal.
However, their cross-border rivals will have other ideas and will be hungry to bounce back from a stinging defeat dealt by the Saints in Round 2.
The Cats have recruited well and appear a more settled line-up this year, as shown in their 29-point win over West to open the season.
Billy Galpin’s return to the club has given the midfield a voice and his work on and off the ball has been impressive so far.
Ricky Killey has been a focal point up forward, while young-gun Adam McKinnon can not be ruled out to make an impact in front of the big sticks.
Ruckman Hamish McCrae is another rising talent who has proven his worth in the opening rounds along with the likes of new recruit Ed Pritchard and Matt Killey who have also been in form.
Tipsters will find it difficult heading into tomorrow’s game and it may well come down to the home-ground advantage which could see the Bulldogs claim their first win of the season.
