PENSHURST is flying high atop the Mininera and District Football League premiership ladder after the first two rounds of the 2024 season, having thrashed its first two opponents, but the Bombers will face their first real test when they travel to Tatyoon Recreation Reserve today.
The battle against the reigning premiers is going to go a long way to show how far Penshurst has improved from last season, as the Hawks will take the game right to the visitors.
The Bombers match up well with Tatyoon, as the last time these teams met was back in June 2023 where Penshurst inflicted the only defeat of the season on the Hawks.
The visitors are a much-changed outfit this season, with many former players returning to play for the club this year.
Penshurst coach, Jayden Watson, knows the importance of the game and what the message to his team will be.
“The game is definitely our biggest test to date, but the message will be nothing changes in terms of the way we want to play, just being able to do it under longer periods of pressure will be the challenge,” he said.
“We are always looking to improve every aspect of our game, but we will have a big focus on quick defensive transition this weekend and will focus on one touch stuff at training.”
The Bombers expect to be at near full strength for the game which is a bonus, as Watson can maintain continuity from week to week.
“(We have) three to four fellas who have been on more of a longer-term injury list who we haven’t seen play yet this year, but from our squads from the first two rounds everyone is available,” Watson said.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Moyston-Willaura
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD must quickly forget the disappointment of its one-point loss last round and regather the momentum the side has created this season for its battle against Moyston-Willaura at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve today.
The Lismore-Derrinallum players didn’t follow the script last week, as the Rams were expected to win comfortably, but the Demons took the game right up to the Rams and earned the points.
DJ Woods, Tyler Staude, Dylan Ross, Zach Burgess, Jezza Woods, and Andrew Fry were hard at the ball all game against the Demons, and they will have to reproduce this form against the Pumas today.
Moyston-Willaura are holding the rest of the premiership ladder on its shoulders at the bottom of the ladder, and the side has only scored a combined 51 points from the opening two games.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur v Caramut
HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR make a triumphant return to Macarthur Recreation Reserve today after its unexpected defeat of Woorndoo-Mortlake on the road last round.
After the Tigers had accounted for Tatyoon in the opening round, only the Eagles would have thought they could knock off last season’s runner-up, but the team played four-quarter football to claim victory by four points.
Lachlan Glare, Aaron Seabrook, Sam Hodgins, Rick Glare, Ben Meade, and Lachlan Tanner were stunning last week, but the whole team ensured the points returned down the highway.
Caramut put up a brave show against Tatyoon at home last round, and will not be the easy beats of last season, as Caleb Arthur, Phillip Chatfield, Jackson Campbell-Brown, Ted Walliss, Nicholas Walker, and Kyle Ryan made the Hawks earn their win.
Other games
IN what could be seen as the match of the round, third placed Lismore-Derrinallum hosts fourth-placed Ararat Eagles at Derrinallum Recreation Reserve today.
The Demons will be buoyed by the tough win against the Rams away from home last week, while Ararat Eagles took care of business against Great Western to set up this clash of two unbeaten teams.
Wickliffe-Lake Bolac travels to Stawell’s Central Park to battle Great Western, with the Magpies expected to remain undefeated after the clash against the Lions.
SMW Rovers hosts Woorndoo-Mortlake, and the Bulldogs will find the Tigers far too good as the visitors rebound from a shoch loss last round in the final game of the round.
