SFNL Division 3 & 4 Round 3 Preview

Division 3 – Round Three Preview

It’s the battle of the South’s when South Yarra and South Mornington face off at Leigh Park over the weekend. Neither side has registered a win thus far and both clubs will be optimistic about their chances here. The Tigers put in a commendable performance against the Falcons last week and will be looking to keep improving each week. They have shown they can play good footy in patches and Jordan Waite has been a bright spot with six goals so far. The Lions have battled injuries and poor form to start the year and their results reflect that. With no previous history it's hard to get a read on how this will unfold but the Tigers have played the better footy so far and enter as marginal favourites. 

Black Rock should continue their unbeaten run to start the season when they come up against Doveton Eagles on their home deck on Saturday. The Jets look a far more polished unit compared to when we last saw them in 2019 and their opening fortnight should have supporters excited. The win over Ashwood last round would’ve been particularly pleasing for coach Ryan Handley, with the Magpies tipped to be one of the teams around the mark. Ned Fallon is already proving his worth in front of goal with eight majors and Jake Anderson has been finding plenty of the Sherrin.

Endeavour Hills face a big challenge when they host Clayton in their clash at Barry Simon Reserve. The Falcons were much better in their victory over the Tigers last week but face off against what many consider the top side in Division 3 this year. The Clays average winning margin is a staggering 141 points but that has been inflated with wins against battling sides. This clash will mark their first real battle against anyone of note and they should relish the opportunity. Jayden Gilmour was awesome last week with a bag of 10 goals, while Paul Tsoucalas and Dylan Bone have also provided strong targets up forward. 

The final match of the round sees Ashwood host Narre South in an intriguing matchup. The Magpies will be keen to atone for last week's blip against the Jets while the Saints have had a flying start to life in the SFNL and are yet to drop a game. The visitor's inclusion has brought some much needed depth and competitiveness to the Division and Ashwood should be wary of the newcomers. The Saints forward half has fired in the opening fortnight with Danny Brewster, Jayden O’Brien and Brandon Nolan all featuring in the goals. The Magpies have played some exciting football and shouldn’t be too dispirited with their 1-1 record thus far. Jack Purcell kicked three goals last week to take his season tally to 15 and will no doubt be keen to stamp his authority on this contest. 

Division 4 – Round Three Preview

The match of the season takes place at Marriott Waters Reserve when Lyndhurst host Carrum Patterson Lakes in a top of the table clash on Saturday afternoon. With both sides undefeated, this promises to be a rip snorter of a game and a great litmus test for both clubs. It will be fascinating to see which game style prevails, with both taking in contrasting methods of play. The Lions, a free flowing attacking side, are capable of putting up cricket scores when they get rolling. The Lightning, in the previous few seasons at least, have been a defensive unit who like to keep the game scrappy and dour. Come Saturday night we might have a better indication about which brand stacks up best under pressure. It must be said the men in orange looked extremely potent last week when they booted 22 goals but whether that was more about their opponents rather than change in style should be answered here.  

The other unbeaten team in the competition, Cerberus, should have no problems at all when they face Moorabbin at their home base. The Kangaroos were beat up last week and look destined for a long and miserable winter. The warning signs for another drubbing are well and truly flashing here with the home side coming off a huge win over the Redlegs. If you’re heading to this one bring an umbrella, it could rain Cerberus goals. 

Frankston and Hallam square off at Overport Park this weekend, the Dolphins looking to build on last week's strong performance over Lyndale. The home side has been a consistent performer ever since entering the competition and appear to be on track for another solid season. They’ll be wary of the Hawks however, who despite being 0-2 have shown glimpses against some quality sides. These are the games you must win if you want to play finals and the Dolphins should do just that. 

The final match of the round sees Dandenong play host to Lyndale at Greaves Reserve. Both clubs are yet to get off the mark in 2021 and will be chomping at the bit for the ball to be bounced in this one. The Redlegs almost got over the line the last time they played at home and will be hoping to use that experience to drive them to a victory here. The Pumas also will realise what a great opportunity they have to notch up their first win and should throw everything at the home side here. 

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