By Lincoln Edmunds
@LincolnEdmunds
ROUND 9 PREVIEW
Lyndale V Sandown (Barry Powell Reserve)
V 
Last time they met – R2, 14 April 2018, Sandown 7.10 (52) def by Lyndale 12.5 (77).
Lyndale have surged back into finals calculations with some impressive performances recently. The club currently has a record of 3-5 but their healthy percentage of 109.98 could be crucial come the back end of the season. The Pumas are one game outside the top four but boast a percentage that would see them jump over Moorabbin should they catch them on premiership points.
Lyndale are at their best when they take the game on, shaping up as a very dangerous side when in attack. With an array of goal kickers and forward options, kicking a healthy score has been one of the Pumas’ strengths this season. Facing a struggling Sandown side, it would be no surprise to see several of their key forwards get off the chain and stamp their authority on the contest.
Moses Faaola has been lively in attack in the past two games and creates plenty of excitement whenever he is near goal. Jack Brown has also chipped in at various stages this season and has played a handy role for the team.
The Cobras have endured back to back beltings and will be up against it when they travel to face a rejuvenated Pumas outfit. They cannot afford to kick poorly in front of goal this week, something they were guilty of last round.
Lyndale seemed to have turned the corner and should triumph on home turf quite handsomely.
Lyndale by 50 points.
Dandenong V Moorabbin Kangaroos (Greaves Reserve)
V 
Last time they met – R2, 14 April 2018, Moorabbin 12.11 (83) def Dandenong 9.12 (66).
The rollercoaster ride of a season continues for Moorabbin, with the team in danger of falling out of the top four after another poor showing last round. The club had a great chance to break two games clear in fourth spot but were dismantled by the Pumas on their home deck in a flat display. The week off will give the players a good chance to rest and reset for the remainder of the season.
Dandenong are also coming off a dirty day having been trounced by the Dolphins to the tune of 110 points. However, returning to their home deck against the inconsistent Roos presents the Redlegs with a good opportunity to cause some carnage.
These two sides met in Round 2 with the Redlegs almost snatching an unlikely come from behind win. If the home side can stitch together four quarters here, they are likely to give the Roos a good run for their money. Dandenong will need to keep an eye on Lee Natsioulas who has booted nine goals in his past two appearances.
Moorabbin simply cannot afford to lose this game if they want to play finals. Expect them to make a statement.
Moorabbin Kangaroos by 37 points.
Lyndhurst V Carrum Patterson Lakes (Marriott Waters Reserve)
V 
Last time they met – R2, 14 April 2018, Carrum Patterson Lakes 6.7 (43) def Lyndhurst 3.5 (23).
The mouth-watering matchup between the top two teams takes place in this blockbuster clash between Lyndhurst and Carrum Patterson Lakes at Marriott Waters Reserve. This match should be an absolute cracker and will give us some more clues about both sides come the final siren.
The Lightning’s only loss this season has come against the Lions when the two clubs battled in Round 2. Since then Lyndhurst have stamped their authority on the rest of the competition, winning their next six games in a row. The club is also yet to drop a game on home turf and will be confident that they can keep this streak intact come the first bounce at 2:15pm.
Both of these sides are very strong defensively, restricting opposition scoring effectively with good structures and pressure. CPL have only conceded 333 points this season at an average of 41.6 a game, compared to Lyndhurst who have let through 347 points at an average of 43.3. With this in mind, a low scoring slog is to be expected with goals to be an even more precious commodity than usual.
CPL have shown a tendency to hit the scoreboard a bit more than the home side but Charlie Gardiner, Jarryd McGrath and Hamish Browning provide the Lyndhurst midfield with quality targets forward of centre. You get the sense that both of these clubs have been building for this clash and after a week off to recharge we should expect a high-quality contest.
This has the makings of a classic game and it’ll be the Lightning who inflict the Lions first loss of the season in a thriller!
Lyndhurst by two points.
Cerberus V Frankston Dolphins (McAuliffe Oval)
V 
Last time they met – R2, 14 April 2018, Frankston 12.7 (79) def Cerberus 4.6 (30).
The Dogs are in the middle of a tough fixture having endured back to back losses against the Lightning and the Lions. They face another difficult assignment when they square up against the Dolphins at McAuliffe Oval. It’s easy to forget that Cerberus were in the top four as little as two rounds ago, but since then they have been exposed against some of the better sides.
Frankston have won four games in a row and belted the Redlegs by 110 points last round. They head into this clash full of confidence but will need to practice their goal kicking at training after booting a woeful 30 behinds last round. If they can get their accuracy on target then expect them to kick a big score once again.
In the opposition camp Cerberus have struggled to consistently kick large scores for the season, only cracking the triple figure mark on one occasion against the winless Redlegs. For this very reason it’s hard to see them matching it with the potent Dolphins attack. Frankston had ten individual goal kickers last round with plenty of variety in attack. With a better spread of contributors across the park, the Dolphins should be too strong here.
Frankston to make it five in a row with relative ease.
Frankston by 30 points.
