WITH the top two goal kickers in the Mininera and District Football League and a midfield that is dominating every team they face, Penshurst travels to Derrinallum Recreation Reserve to battle Lismore-Derrinallum in round seven action today.

Fourth-placed Lismore-Derrinallum has home advantage. as the Demons look to cause a big upset that no other team has been able to achieve in 2024.

Josh Rentsch (36) and Ian Milera (31) are first and second respectively on the league goalkickers list and pose a twin threat up front for the Bombers that the Demons must shut down if they hope to win.

Lismore-Derrinallum must close the Bombers’ midfield down and stop the outside runners from transitioning quickly and connecting with the forwards.

Unless the home side can keep the ball in tight for all four quarters, the visitors will maintain their undefeated run by their swift ball movement and sharp shooting goal kickers.

SMW Rovers v Hawkesdale-Macarthur

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR travels to Mininera Recreation Reserve to tackle SMW Rovers with each team in differing form.

The home side has only defeated lowly Caramut to date this season and lost to Tatyoon by 67 points last week, while the Eagles have only been beaten by Penshurst and third-placed Woorndoo-Mortlake.

Eagles playing-coach, Xavier McCartney, has his squad performing well this season and even in the Penshurst game, they kept the margin to only 44 points where every other team has been thrashed by 100 or more.

With 25 goals to his credit, Lachlan Glare is a significant threat up forward that the Eagles can best attack through, but if he is being well held, Joesph Forrest and McCartney are other avenues to goal.

Sam Hodgins has been named in the best players in five of his six games to be the Eagles’ best performer to date, while the Glare brothers, Lachlan and Rick, have also started the season strongly.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Caramut

GLENTHOMPSON-DUNLKELD will be hoping to return to the winners list today at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve when it hosts Caramut.

Except for winning the final quarter last round, the Rams were well beaten by Woorndoo-Mortlake in a match that held much in the fate of the finals hopes.

Currently eight points out of the top five, Glenthompson-Dunkeld is expected to get the better of the Swans with playing-coach, Tom Waters, leading by example.

Waters is the highest goal kicker for the team, but Zach Burgess is playing the important role as the small crumbing forward.

Other games

GREAT Western will host Tatyoon at Stawell’s North Park this afternoon knowing the visitors are nothing near the team that won the flag last season.

The home side has only had the one victory to date, against Caramut, while the Hawks have three under their belts and rejoined the winners list last round against SMW Rovers.

Despite having home ground advantage, the Lions will struggle against Tatyoon.

Wickliffe-Lake Bolac should thrash Moyston-Willaura this afternoon at Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve, with the undefeated Magpies only behind Penshurst on percentage.

The final game is between Ararat Eagles and Woorndoo-Mortlake at Alexandra Oval, with the Eagles having a real chance of knocking off the Tigers.

Netball

THE Mininera and District Netball Association A grade top five could remain as is after round seven, as only two of the top six sides play each other with the rest to play sides that are well off the mark.

Fourth-placed Penshurst travels to Derrinallum Recreation Reserve this afternoon to play seventh-placed Lismore-Derrinallum, with the visitors expected to come home with the points.

Bombers coach, Leah Mirtschin, has her squad playing great netball with the undefeated Tatyoon, and a determined Hawkesdale-Macarthur the only teams to beat Penshurst to date.

With a 32-goal spanking of Great Western last round, Penshurst enters the game in great touch with its goalers, Erin Kinnealy and Libby Rentsch, dominating in the last two rounds.

Lismore-Derrinallum won last round by only three goals, but it meant four important points added on the ladder.

The speed of the Bombers’ midcourt players along with the great work at both ends of the court should see the red and black too strong for the Demons.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Caramut

GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD will be back on the winners list this afternoon after they host Caramut at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve with the home side regrouping after a poor showing last week.

The Rams failed to run with the Woorndoo-Mortlake team and paid the price, beaten by 27 goals away from home.

The Swans gave Lismore-Derrinallum a fright, down by three at home, but the Rams are a far better side than the Demons and pose a much tougher proposition today.

Champion shooter, Jane Robertson, is averaging 29 goals a game with a game high tally of 40 against Lismore-Derrinallum, and she and Chloe Frost form a formidable pairing.

SMW Rovers v Hawkesdale-Macarthur

UNLESS Hawkesdale-Macarthur can defeat SMW Rovers at Mininera Recreation Reserve today by 50 goals, then the Eagles are going to remain in sixth spot on the ladder, equal with Glenthompson-Dunkeld and Penshurst.

For the Eagles to leapfrog either of these two teams, they would need their opponents to stage a huge upset for them to climb into the top five.

Last round the Eagles took the game right up to the undefeated reigning premiers, Tatyoon, at Macarthur and fell short by five goals.

Eagles playing-coach, Josie Barker, has her squad building nicely as the season edges toward the halfway point, and realistically should enter the King’s Birthday bye with six wins and only two losses.

Other games

ARARAT EAGLES hosts Woorndoo-Mortlake in the game of the round at Alexandra Oval, with second playing third in what should be a fascinating match-up.

The Eagles are undefeated along with Tatyoon (but behind on percentage), as the benchmark teams in the competition.

They have the second-best attack and the strongest defence, setting up an enthralling battle.

Despite not having an A grade team for the last two seasons, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac is playing well but not gaining the wins and will host Moyston-Willaura today at Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve.

Tatyoon will be far too strong for Great Western at North Park and may well post another big win.