NTFA division 1 2018, round 12: Tiger derby to shape finals race

The Country Tigers’ past three games have been decided by a total of three points and Saturday’s clash with Rocherlea shapes as another tight one with both sides desperate to make finals.

Longford has not lost by more than three goals after round one and took an 11-point victory when the two sides met in round three. 

“We can’t seem to get away from these close games,” Thorp said. 

“The guys have obviously improved and come a long way from last year and we’ve been really competitive against the top three sides in our last three games but being competitive doesn't really cut it, you need to win.

“We’re still in sixth spot at the moment so we need to do something about getting out of that spot to ensure we play finals and beating Rocherlea would be a good start.”

The Suburban Tigers have lost four of their past six but Lyndon Stubbs is confident his side has the know-how to win away.

“They’re playing a bit of a different brand of football to what we’re used to Longford playing,” Stubbs said.

“They jumped us last time a little bit and we didn’t react well to the brand of footy they played. I think if we get our structure right we should be on top but having said that we have to be prepared for everything.”

HILLWOOD remains in a good spot for finals despite losing two on the trot and will regain Shaun Worker and Braidy Squires for the clash with Bracknell. 

Key forward Andrew Whitmore was again among the Sharks’ best in last weekend’s loss to South Launceston but needs more support from his teammates.  

“He had an interrupted pre-season and played the first game in the reserves and after that he’s been great, he’s averaging four goals a game for us so he’s doing a really good job,” Sharks coach Nathan Lowe said.

“He’s turned up every training run since the reserves game and dropped a few kilos and he’s looking really good, playing some good footy and we need it.

“We just need to give him some help, that’s our biggest concern at the moment.”

Casey Lockett is the only omission from a Bracknell side desperate to hold onto second spot with the Bulldogs awaiting next week.

Redlegs coach Gary Shipton said his side needed to keep tighter reins on defender Josh Moore than it did in the reverse fixture.

“When we’re kicking the ball into our forward line ... he reads the ball quite well so (we need to) go around him,” Shipton said. 

“Him and Dan Withers and [Nathan] Pearce in the centre, they’re the main three guys that really hurt us last time and they’ve been playing well all year.”

SCOTTSDALE coach Geoff Mohr says his Magpies “might have turned the corner” after recording back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

The ruck dominance of Daniel Roozendaal and Bryton Mullins has been key to Scottsdale’s resurgence, but Mohr is aware this week’s opposition Deloraine has weapons of its own. 

“They’ve got some good young players, [Dylan] Schnoor gives them good run and [Dylan] Jones up forward has kicked a few goals so he’s another one we’ll keep an eye on,” Mohr said. 

“They're young, they're quick, they take the game on and they play a good style of footy so we’ll be trying to get on top early.”

GEORGE TOWN is hoping to put a dent in Bridgenorth’s top-three push when the two sides meet at Winnaleah.

Saints coach Allan O’Sign is at full fitness after kicking four first-half goals in the loss to Deloraine, and said key forwards Luke Edwards and Scott Fenton had improved his side’s structure since the two sides last met. 

Parrots half-back Lachlan Bonney appears set to miss at least two months after injuring his ankle in the win over Rocherlea, while Matt Zanetto will also miss.