NEFU bloodline still strong between Bridport, Lilydale

The Seagulls were competitive for three quarters against the reigning premier in their last meeting and coach Greg Latham is looking for a win against a top side in the coming weeks.

"It's a massive ask, to state the obvious, so we might change things up and see what happens," he said.

"Clearly they are the team to beat still, we are under no illusions about that."

Demons coach Colin Lockhart used last week to get some game time into Trent Griggs and Logan Reynolds, who were both injured in the previous Bridport game, as son Wil Lockhart returns.

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"I daresay that they play their best footy against us because there was a lot of tradition in the NEFU and they don't want to be beaten by a fellow NEFU club," he said.

Despite playing one of Old Scotch's "better four-quarter efforts as a footy club for several years", coach Brayley Coombes is still hoping to iron out flaws this week against Meander Valley.

"As well as we played last week, we were a little bit inefficient going forward, so we will be keen to do a lot of work on that this week and hopefully rectify some issues there."

The Thistles lose the experienced Tom Pedley but welcome back big man George Walker as Meander Valley comes into the clash after being "fortunate" to defeat UTAS.

"It's another opportunity for us as a younger group to see how one of the leading teams of the competition go about it and to see where we're at and what sort of improvements we need to make," coach Damien Rhind said.

Both UTAS and St Pats were pleased with their respective performances last week and will be eager to see more of the same as they clash.

Lions coach Brodie Tiernan said his side controlled most of last week's game - their closest match-up for the season - and is impressed by the likes of Liam Guardia, Dan Bluett and Tom Maddock.

"Aiming to go into this game with the same attitude and mindset and to carry last week's performance into this game," he said.

On the flipside, Tiernan will have to make up to six changes for the clash as St Pats coach Jake Lowe welcomes back Pat Rodman and Jye Balym with Elliot Barnes and Jake Chamberlain not far away.

"We had three late withdrawals from Thursday's side and had some distractions prior to the game and the whole 22 really fought it out and wanted the win," he said.

"We want to bring that exact same mindset and intent."

Old Launcestonians will be hungry to bounce back from last week's loss as they face Evandale at Morven Park.

The Blues went down to Scotch by 64 points, with coach Laine Cleaver admitting the Thistles showed where his side's fitness and work rate is at.

"We are looking at improving in the areas that we got beaten convincingly on the weekend," he said.

"Hally [Danny Hall] did a good job in the ruck yet we got smashed in the stoppages, so we need to improve our stoppage work and our two-way running and our spread.

"What we try and work on as a team, Scotch beat us at our own game so we need to bring that back this week."

Cleaver's side will have up to six changes on the weekend, while the injury woes continue for Sam Bouwman's Eagles with Lachie Groves injuring his troublesome knee.

But the Evandale coach is hoping to regain co-captain Jackson Davey for the OLs challenge.

"The next month is pretty tough, especially from a midfield perspective ... but we think we've addressed a bit of that at the stoppages so we are hoping to be a bit stronger than we were last time," he said.

Perth hosts East Coast, with both sides eager to get back on the winners' list.

The hosts felt the wrath of an in-form and almost full strength Lilydale outfit last week as East Coast weren't able to defeat St Pats at home.

Perth coach Danny Bennett admitted Saturday's game isn't going to be easy but welcomes back Nathan Croft and several other experienced heads.

"It's going to be tough but we are in for the challenge and we will see what East Coast bring up," he said.

East Coast leader Gene Savage said last week's defeat was "disappointing" but it gave his side something to work on and learn from.

"We are looking to get back to some of the structural stuff we have gone away from at times against stronger opposition and get that winning feeling going again and have a good team performance," he said.