James Murphy
CASTERTON SANDFORD v WEST GAMBIER
WEST Gambier makes the cross-border trip this weekend and will be hungry for victory when it arrives at Island Park to play Casterton Sandford.
The Roos have tasted little success in the Western Border football A Grade competition this year.
Their only win for the season was a slim three-point result over North Gambier in Round 2 but since then a four-quarter performance has remained elusive.
Despite that, they managed an impressive first half against ladder-leader South Gambier last week and will take confidence from the intensity shown.
If West can maintain a similar level against the Cats it might catch the Victorians off-guard.
They struggled against a polished North Gambier last round but have proven a fitter outfit to previous seasons.
That helped them catch the Roos by surprise in the opening round and power to a 29-point win.
They will hope to do the same but will have to work hard for it tomorrow.
West’s Tom Nieuwerkerk has been in impressive form of late, while Michael Minuzzo comes off a best-on-ground performance.
Coach Daron McElroy is dangerous in the ruck and moving forward and will once again provide a challenge for Cat Hamish McCrae.
However, McCrae had the better of the contest in the season opener, where he put in a best-on-ground effort.
Since then he has continued to shine and is having an exceptional season.
He will join the likes of Diarmid Cleary, Ed Pritchard and Dylan Ayton as players who will need to be kept on a tight leash.
The game could go either way but Casterton Sandford will hope the home-turf advantage is enough to post its third win for the year.
