By Lincoln Edmunds
@LincolnEdmunds
Click here to view this week's SFNL Record.
ROUND 8 PREVIEW
Sandown V Lyndhurst (Edinburgh Reserve)
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Last time they met - R1, 7 April 2018, Lyndhurst 17.19 (121) def Sandown 3.4 (22).
Lyndhurst have been an impressive outfit this season, the club currently sitting at 6-1 with a healthy percentage of 172.33 to be firmly placed in second spot. The Lighting are a very well drilled unit having the second best defence in the competition, leaking only 318 points over seven games at an average of 45.4 points a match.
After taking care of Cerberus quite comfortably last weekend, Lyndhurst should head into this clash with expectations of a comfortable win. But with Frankston snipping at their heels in third place they cannot afford any slip ups. Hamish Browning has been in great form for the Lightning kicking four goals in his past three matches.
In comparison to Lyndhurst’s defensive efforts, Sandown have struggled to contain opposition teams this season averaging 99.1 points against. As a result of their poor defence the Cobras have been taken to the cleaners several times this season with some heavy losses.
The club will be determined to make amends for last week’s poor showing against Moorabbin but will have their work cut out for them against the impressive Lightning. Bradley Reiner was good last weekend with four goals and James Tate has performed well this season.
Lyndhurst will hold no fears travelling to Edinburgh Reserve and should return home with the four points.
Lyndhurst by 40 points.
Frankston Dolphins V Dandenong (Overport Park)
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Last time they met - R1, 7 April 2018, Dandenong 5.7 (37) def by Frankston Dolphins 23.13 (151).
Having faced every opposition team now, the Dolphins must be thrilled to be sitting at 5-2 in their debut season in the SFNL. Many were unsure how Frankston would fare in their introduction to senior football but there have been minimal teething issues on field. The team is shaping up very nicely and the club looks like a genuine contender that could go deep into finals.
The reserves are also playing well and have plenty of players ready to step up to the senior side if any injuries or form issues arise. The Dolphins did get pushed right to end by Lyndale last round but did enough to cling onto a three-point win. They will be hopeful of a less nerve-wracking finish this weekend, having been involved in three games that were decided by single figures so far this season.
Unfortunately for Dandenong their season has been a bit of battle to this point, with the club enduring some thumping losses along with a heartbreaking close defeat to Sandown. As a result, they are yet to notch up a win but have shown that when they play their best footy they can be a dangerous side.
Travelling down to Frankston will be a tough task for the Redlegs who are in the middle of a tough draw after facing CPL away last week. Frankston to be too good here.
Frankston Dolphins by 38 points.
Carrum Patterson Lakes V Cerberus (Roy Dore Reserve)
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Last time they met - R1, 7 April 2018, Cerberus 6.6 (42) def by Carrum Patterson Lakes 12.9 (81).
Carrum Patterson Lakes have beaten every side in the competition to take a stranglehold on top of the ladder with a spotless record of 7-0. The Lions have looked like the team to beat for the majority of the season but that’s not to say they haven’t endured some scares along the way too.
They return to home turf to face an improved Cerberus side who challenged the Lions for three quarters when they met in round one. The Lions have not looked back since then and the prospect of facing CPL on their home deck is the most daunting task in the competition right now.
Whilst CPL is the best attacking side in the league, averaging 100.8 points a game, it’s their defensive efforts that are setting them apart from the rest of the competition. The Lions only concede an average of 43.6 points a game and combining this with their attacking flair has resulted in them winning many games by big margins.
Cerberus hit a bump in the road last weekend getting comprehensively outplayed by the Lightning to be knocked out of the top four. The Dogs have competed in most games so far and have played some good footy in patches. However, as every team has discovered so far, the Lions are extremely difficult to keep down for a full four quarters and on their home turf the task will be even tougher.
Expect Cerberus to put up a good fight during various stages of the game but it would take a brave person to tip against the Lions on current form at home.
Carrum Patterson Lakes by 35 points.
Moorabbin Kangaroos V Lyndale (Widdop Crescent Reserve)
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Last time they met - R1, 7 April 2018, Lyndale 9.8 (62) def by Moorabbin Kangaroos 12.10 (82)
On paper this looks like a fairly close match up given both teams form from the weekend. Moorabbin got back on the winners list last round with a commanding win over Sandown where they were able to kick 19 goals. For Lyndale, even though they didn’t get the win against the Dolphins, they could barely have been more impressive taking it right up to one of the better sides in the competition.
Moorabbin got the points when these two sides met in Round 1 but a lot has changed since then. Both sides have been inconsistent with a large gap between their best and worst footy. What we do know however is that both sides can score heavily when they are on song.
Dylan Bone has been the main man up forward for Moorabbin this season and has been in a purple patch recently, booting eleven goals in his past two games. He also bagged six majors when these two sides clashed in the opening round. Lyndale will be certain to keep a close eye on him all day.
The Pumas have shown all season that kicking a score is no issue for them. The fact that their percentage sits at 100.37 despite only winning two games shows that they are a dangerous side forward of centre. Unfortunately their defensive structure has shown a tendency to leak too many points the other way and this has cost them several games. If they can find a little bit of improvement in this area they will be a big chance in this game.
This match shapes up as the most interesting of the round and if Lyndale can plug a few defensive holes they are every chance of pinching a win. Toss of a coin this one!
Lyndale by one point.
