VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE
G Wishart, P Keeffe, R Johnson, J Hiskins
M Adams, J Jermalinski, H Lim, P Long
G Beckwith, M White, C McKay, N Staude
D Florance, M Simms, P Freund, D Eastcott INS: No change OUTS:
The Reds could just about walk down the road to face the Millers on Saturday, but they won’t of course, too long a journey home after a few beverages. Should be a great fixture, 2nd and 3rd on the ladder, with only one point separating them. A lot to play for here, as whoever wins this one could find themselves on top of the ladder come Saturday night. Both sides have a wealth of experience with some excellent skips to boot. Wishart versus Kelly, Carter or McRae would be worth watching. Florence and Adams also starting the season well for the visitors. Home ground advantage could be the decider here.
South Perth 6-2
THORNLIE v MANNING
THORNLIE
M Yates, J Stean, R Carruthers, B Wright
R Bowron, N Holden, I Quayle, A Williams
M Separovich, G Vaughan, J Thorn, P Riggio
E Gollan, D Slade, C Penaluna, D Cooper INS: R Carruthers OUTS: J Walker
MANNING
M Carey, G Hogg, P Gatti, M Hoskin
M Piggott, M Ellis, P Herbert, J Titheradge
G O'Brien, A Taylor, B Adams, P Bowden
W Heldt, S Adams, J Andrew, S Lambert INS: J Butler, P Herbert OUTS: P Bowden, A MacPherson
Both of these sides lost last week, so they will be desperately looking for an aggregate win at the home of the Ravens on Saturday, 7th versus 8th as it turns out. A couple of changes for the Eagles with Price and McPherson out, to name just two. The Eagles badly need a win here, as they find themselves amongst the also fans at this early stage of the year. They have only had the one win, albeit narrowly against the Mariners. The visitors certainly have some depth though, and they possess a lot of experienced players still. As we all know, the synthetic at Thornlie runs beautifully, but it takes a bit of getting used to. Expect Yates to fire up, as he doesn’t like losing too often. The Ravens as they normally do, picking a similar sixteen to last week.
The home ground advantage, sways me towards the Ravens.
Thornlie 7-1
FORRESTFIELD v KARDINYA
FORRESTFIELD
R Tillemans, R Carr, B Wicks, M Vatri
J Weppner, R Cummings, J Forrest, F Gore
B Barnfield, M Garner, J Parker, P Armstrong
G Tibbles, T Tillemans, A Keegan, B Obsorn INS: J Weppner OUTS: T Gedge
KARDINYA
I Barrie, R Hunter, H Vriezen, M Monteiro
T Cocodis, R Jones, K Stower, S Garner
J Rochford, W Bezant, A McCullagh, W Lee
G Fewings, S Vinci, P Larard, L Phillips INS: G Fewings, P Larard, R McNamara OUTS: C Vinci, R Knapp, W Bezant
The home side welcome back the young and promising Jarad Wepner for this vital clash.
The last time that Forrestfield played at home they had a big win, over fellow newcomers Safety Bay. Can they repeat that? The Kats have made a few changes, with Graeme Fewings back skipping, a good in there. Bezant returns from his little sojourn in the top side. Conn Vinci, Roy McNamara and Ross Knapp don’t appear to be playing either.
In a surprise, I pick the home side to win narrowly.
Forrestfield 7-1
SAFETY BAY v HILTON PARK
SAFETY BAY
S Gallon, S Adams, D Fishwick, P Daynes
R Stanley, L Piper, D Winn, H Wilson
P Burgess, G Wilkes, L Gandy, D Holt
R Parr, S Mulhall, J McInnes, M Jaworski INS: L Piper, H Wilson, R Parr, D Fishwick, D Holt OUTS: R Kennedy, R Stotter, T Parker, B Berry, P Gilkinson
HILTON PARK
C McMahon, R MacKay, S Cargill, M Broadbridge
C Standley, B Smith, G Saint, K Grant
R Butler, G Dodd, I Gray, R Fortini
T Maxwell, S Farrell, D Mitchell, D Van De Ven INS: I Gray, C McMahon, S Cargill OUTS: P Harber, T Simpson, S Ivory
Can the home sixteen have a their first win?
The Bay are still searching for success and playing at home, they just might.
I don’t know too much about the personnel picked, but the home ground advantage just might get them over the line I think.
A big out for the Hawks, with Simpson missing, replaced by McMahon, don’t know about that one.
Safety Bay 6-2
FREMANTLE v LEEMING
FREMANTLE
P Holmes, J F Stewart, J Chessell, M Conway
J Smith, P Clausen, D Malkin, N Gaspar
M Ngui, M Gill, B Ciccotosto, B Sumich
J Hall, S McCormack, R Pozzi, E Lacy INS: M Gill OUTS: M Starcevich
LEEMING
P Dobie, B Eather, W Blake, R Bellis
K Vandersluys, P Boys, D Johnson, W Birrell
G Ford, T Higham, N Bennetts, A Andersson
J Newton, G Burgess, P Hickey, L Mundri INS: W Birrell, A Andersson, P Hickey OUTS: J Lennon, J Bowden, T Krajancic
This clash will tell us whether the Mariners should occupy first spot on the ladder, albeit an early one. A good in for the home side, with Gill returning, but they lose the promising Starcevich. But the big news coming from the den of the hungry Lions is the non inclusion of Krajancik. A fair amount of roaring at Leeming, sees him depart the Pride I hear. The visiting sixteen will probably gel though, as they always do and operate as a well oiled group.
Wouldn’t it be great to see Hall versus Vandersluys, two fine bowlers and cool, calm skips at that. If you look at last year’s sixteen’s, the Lions come out on top for regularity, with a few too many new faces at Freo.
For this reason I will go for the experienced visiting “ sixteen “ quite easily.
