In the A-grade netball, Allansford versus Dennington shapes as the match of the round.
The Cats have dropped to fourth with their round-seven loss to Merrivale and will be eager to bounce back against the Dogs, who have jumped to third.
The Dogs are the big improvers this season and a win on Saturday would cement their position as a genuine premiership contender.
Old Collegians, depending on other results, could move to fifth with a win against ninth-placed Panmure.
The Warriors are fresh off their second victory of the season, a commanding 27-goal triumph over South Rovers.
The bottom-half of the ladder is extremely tight, with only two wins separating 10th from fifth.
In the senior football, Old Collegians (sixth) take on Panmure (seventh) in what is an important clash for both side’s finals aspirations.
The Warriors have found a new level in recent weeks, downing flag-contender Allansford followed by a 52-point victory against South Rovers.
The Bulldogs are also coming off back-to-back wins, including a 41-point triumph over Kolora-Noorat in round seven.
Merrivale versus Timboon Demons is a top-five clash, with both teams looking to respond after losses.
Matt Hughes
Standard Journalist
Australian Community Media
We’re one-third of the home-and-away season down and the ladder is really starting to take shape.
Round seven looms as an entertaining one for both football and netball, with compelling clashes as far as the eye can see.
In the senior football, you can’t go past Allansford and Merrivale’s top-of-the-table matchup.
The Cats will be desperate to bounce back from their first loss of the season, a 16-point defeat at the hands of Old Collegians in round six.
The Tigers look unstoppable so far, having not dropped a game and boasting a percentage of more than 400.
The Josh Sobey-coached team produced a masterclass against top-four side Russells in round six, restricting it to just two goals.
Fourth-placed Timboon Demons face a big test when they take on fifth-placed Nirranda.
The Demons are chasing a fifth straight win, while the Blues are finding form again after a tough spell where they played all top-three sides in consecutive weeks.
Just like the football, Allansford versus Merrivale is a blockbuster clash in the A-grade netball.
Only two points separate the second-placed Cats and the third-placed Tigers, so who knows which way this one will go.
Star playing coaches Bec Rohan (Cats) and Elisha Sobey (Tigers) will likely have a huge say in the outcome with their on-court performances.
South Rovers will look to return to winning ways against Old Collegians after suffering a heavy defeat to Nirranda.
The Lions won’t have it easy however and face a Warriors side which gave Allansford a fright in round six.
In the other fixtures, Russells Creek play Dennington and Panmure host Kolora-Noorat.
Matt Hughes
Standard Journalist
Australian Community Media
A handful of games in and the Warrnambool and District league ladders are starting to take shape ahead of round six.
In the A-grade netball, seventh-placed Kolora-Noorat’s clash with fifth-placed Timboon Demons looms as the game of the round.
Only percentage separates the two clubs on the ladder and victory to either team could go a long way to helping secure a finals berth at the end of the season.
The Power look to be finding form after two losses to start the season.
The Lillie Bourke-coached outfit has won two of its past three games, with its one loss in that period only by five goals to second-placed Allansford.
Allansford will look to bounce back from its first loss – a heavy defeat at the hands of Nirranda – when it faces Old Collegians.
The Cats are a powerful unit but shouldn’t underestimate the Warriors, who are aiming to break a four-game losing streak.
In the senior football, the stage is set for a blockbuster night game between undefeated clubs Merrivale and Russells Creek.
The Tigers have been untouchable this year, while the Creekers have also been flying.
The Creekers’ defenders will have to be at their best as their opposition have scored 138-points or more in four of their five games this year.
Dennington versus Panmure also shapes as a close contest, with both sides having one win for the season so far.
In the other fixture, Nirranda takes on South Rovers.
Thanks,
Matt
Matt Hughes
Journalist
The Standard
Australian Community Media