James Murphy
CASTERTON SANDFORD v NORTH GAMBIER
A CAT fight is set to take place at Island Park this Saturday when North Gambier visits Casterton Sandford for Round 3 of Limestone Coast football.
The Tigers make the road trip off a longer break, thanks to playing in the Anzac Day clash last Thursday.
Their loss to South Gambier is something they will be eager to bounce back from, especially seeing as it denied them from their first win of the season.
North looks to be a strong line-up again this year, but a three-point loss to West Gambier in the season opener and last round’s 22-point defeat to the Demons leaves it sitting in fifth spot.
One step above the Tigers on the ladder is Casterton Sandford, thanks to a thrilling win over East Gambier last round.
It came down to the final stanza, but the Cats emerged 14-point victors over the Bulldogs, with standout performances from the likes of Callum Currie, Harold Pritchard and Diarmid Cleary.
The Pritchard brothers – Harold and Ed – were in fine form and their runs out of the midfield proved dangerous, combining to score four and three goals respectively.
Due to the closeness of the contest, which was tied up at several stages throughout the match, the Cats would take confidence from riding it out for a win.
They will enter Saturday’s clash with the same intensity and on their home deck they can be a tough opponent.
However, the Tigers have the talent to back themselves and will be eying off a strong result to put their season back on track.
Brock Egan has been in good form upon his return to the club and enters off a best-on-ground performance.
He will be one to watch, as will the likes of Dale Bachmann, Sam Stafford and Toby de Wit, who are all dangerous up forward.
Down the other end, Jake Schutz comes off a strong defensive outing and will likely be given the job of keeping Hamish McCrae quiet.
A close contest could unfold, but North will still enter as favourite based on track record.
