By Marcus Uhe
There’s simply so much happening in round 15 of Outer East Football Netball Premier Division football that you won’t know where to look on Saturday afternoon.
First plays second, fourth plays fifth, sixth plays seventh, eighth plays ninth, and tenth plays eleventh.
Two staunch geographical rivalries will take on extra significance in the context of the relegation battle, while the competition’s newest rivalry, Wandin and Narre Warren, will be one of the more significant games of the season.
The Magpies will be the ones making the trip up the hill, and will be pushed like few teams have pushed them before in 2024, when they look to defend top spot on the table against second-placed Wandin.
Narre Warren extracted revenge on the Bulldogs at home in round three in a grand final replay, but Wandin is eager to keep its 10-game winning streak alive, and take the bragging rights into a potential finals contest.
With Woori Yallock a near lock to knock off Berwick Springs, a Wandin win will create a three-way tie for top spot, joining Narre Warren on 52 points.
It will set up a thrilling run home, with the Magpies facing the toughest schedule of the three, and Woori Yallock drawn to face three teams outside the top six (at time of writing).
But there’s four points that Wandin needs to win before we get that far.
Round three’s loss to Narre Warren was the precede to their vengeance tour that kick-started after the following round’s loss to Woori Yallock.
The Bulldogs got the chocolates on their home turf last season, when Kurt Mutimer and Will Howe missed through injury, before the Magpies turned the tables later in the season back at Kalora Park.
Narre Warren has a minor edge in the head-to-head battle over the last 18 months, with three wins to Wandin’s two, but as we all know, Wandin got the win that both sides wanted the most in September.
A five-goal haul for Sam Toner will likely see him hold his place in the Dandenong Stingrays’ Coates Talent League side, after kicking four in round three and being one of the most influential players on the ground.
Cody Hirst, awarded best-on-ground for Wandin in the grand final win will also miss as he continues to recover from a knee injury, but there’s still be stars galore across both sides.
Peter Gentile will add size, grunt and class to an already stacked midfield battle, and Trent Papworth is expected to return for Narre Warren to help sure up their defence, a critical component of the Magpies’ structure, and could find himself manning Clint Johnson, who is working his way into form after a lay-off for Wandin.
Jordan Jaworski and Aaron Mullett represent two of the competition’s brightest stars, and may be assignments for Mitch Tonna and Tom Russell.
With a top-two position and poll-position for the run home at stake, does much more need to be said?
Considering the top-two battle on the netball courts too in A-Grade, you’ll need to have your head on a swivel to take all the action in at Clegg Road.
At Emerald, what is being dubbed the “relegation cup” will ratchet the intensity up on the already heated contest between the Bombers and Gembrook.
A classic “it doesn’t matter where they are on the ladder” type-contest, the reality is, ladder positions are incredibly consequential, with the loser staring relegation squarely in the face.
A Brookers win will see them edge two games clear of the Bombers, but Emerald taking the points at home will see them draw level on 16 premiership points.
A heavy slog in wet conditions for Gembrook Cockatoo last week will see them take to the field at Chandler Reserve with heavy, weary legs compared to a rested and fresh Emerald side fighting for their Premier Division survival and to finish Sein Clearihan’s coaching tenure on a positive note.
Gembrook Cockatoo was fantastic last week, and will field what is arguably their best side for the season, should Damien Volta make his expected return from injury.
The significance of the contest isn’t lost in Michael Firrito, who likened the contest to a grand final.
“The team that loses that game will be under the pump to be relegated,” the coach said.
“There’s a lot of respect there but we hate losing against them, we definitely want to win that one.”
At Officer Recreation Reserve, the Kangaroos’ finals chances are on the line when they host Pakenham.
With Monbulk (sixth) facing Mt Evelyn (seventh) both tied on 24 points, an Officer win will see them remain one win back from sixth place, but a loss will add another layer of difficulty.
Pakenham, meanwhile, have not much to play for in the final four weeks, but would no-doubt love to spoil their neighbour’s party, after Officer upset them at home in round three.
TIPS: WANDIN v Narre Warren, OFFICER v Pakenham, GEMBROOK COCKATOO v Emerald, Berwick Springs v WOORI YALLOCK, Mt Evelyn v MONBULK, Olinda Ferny Creek v UPWEY TECOMA
