By Lachlan Onions
CASTERTON SANDFORD V EAST GAMBIER
THE Cats host East Gambier in Round 8 of Western Border football in what is expected to be a close contest.
The Bulldogs have the opportunity to move from the foot of the ladder in the clash between fifth and sixth on the ladder.
The Cats can leapfrog West Gambier into fourth on the ladder with a win on Saturday.
East has lost its last three games and this game is a chance for them to return to form.
The Cats enter this clash off the back of a narrow loss to the Saints in Round 7, while East lost their last game to league-leaders South.
Back in Round 3, Casterton claimed an 11-point win over East at McDonald Park.
The Bulldogs will look to restrict the impact of Ed Pritchard, after he impressed when these two sides last met and claimed best on ground honours.
The Cats were a consistent threat going forward and had nine different goalkickers in that game.
Casterton has not won a game since these two sides last met and will draw upon its impressive performance last week as the Cats look to recapture their early season form.
East will look to Garret Ha in the forward line, after he kicked four goals against the Demons last weekend.
Ha has kicked 15 goals this season and kicked three against the Cats in Round 3.
Carl Slape also impressed for the Bulldogs in Round 7 and was their best player, while Dylan Ayton was Casterton’s best player last weekend.
Casterton has been inconsistent this season but they have proven to be a competitive side.
A close game is predicted but the Cats should have enough strength to overcome the Bulldogs at home.
