Lutheran keep the pressure on Brahma Lodge but are they good enough to beat them in September? A good win to Mitchell Park over the Crabs
By Jordan Sennett Perez

Where: Brahma Lodge Oval, Brahma Lodge 

It’s first placed Brahma Lodge against last placed Central United in what should be a pretty straight forward result. The ladder leaders are reeling after their undefeated started to the season was ended by a loss to second placed Adelaide Lutheran. Brahma Lodge will be out for blood looking to return to form against a side that has barely showed up to play in recent weeks such is Central United’s abysmal form. They simply need to show effort in this one, that’s the only way improvement is going to show if the team will’s themselves to crack in and scratch and claw not simply expect improvement start. Brahma Lodge will use this game importantly to regain form by posting a big win and to regain percentage that was lost in last week’s defeat. United are playing so badly at the moment that you only hope that the league leaders will have mercy on them, but Brahma Lodge will be taking no prisoners in this. 

Prediction: Brahma Lodge by 89 points. 

Brahma Lodge have returned to form in a huge way on Saturday afternoon, absolutely dismembering a listless and languid Central United by 188 points. It was a decimation from start to finish with the home side kicking 7 goals to 1 effectively killing off the contest right there and then. It was an absolute training drill from there onwards with another 6 goals on the board for Brahma Lodge to lead by a huge 73 points at the main break. Central United were so off the mark it wasn’t even funny as the league leaders powerful speedy repeatedly cut through them and served their forwards ball on a silver platter. That was only amplified in the third quarter when Brahma booted a whopping 14 goals to 2 to take a 149-point lead into the final term. A 149-point lead with another whole quarter to play, that’s something that just hasn’t been seen in some time. To say the United fans were embarrassed would be a massive understatement as they were left speechless upon witnessing their team get torn to shreds at every turn. The visitors were kept completely scoreless in the last term as Brahma put the icing on the cake with another 6 goals to increase their percentage and maintain outright top spot. Central United went below rock bottom in this one, one of the worst performances in football history. Eric Hem-Mendes led the goalkicking with 5 majors, Arnold Tripp, Veasna Leak, Jack Cook and Karim Hrynkiw each had 4 goals. Jack Scott and Dylan Middleton supported well with 3 goals apiece such was spread of goal scorers. Both teams play next Saturday afternoon with Brahma Lodge taking on Mitchell Park while Central United take on O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale. 

O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale 15.6-96 defeated by Adelaide Lutheran 18.16-124

This is a big game for a few reasons. Adelaide Lutheran last week had their best win of the season so far upsetting the then undefeated ladder leaders in Brahma Lodge while O’Sullivan Beach were largely unconvincing in their 1-point win over Flinders University last week. Adelaide go into this match as the hot favourite but shouldn’t get ahead of themselves like teams have in the past where they go into a game against lowly opposition after a big win the week before against a top team, they’re expected to continue their winning ways and just breeze through. So often that hasn’t been the case, but Adelaide Lutheran are a battle-hardened and experienced side that have been down this road before so expect them to be prepared for anything coming their way. O’Sullivan Beach’s inconsistency has been a big plight on them so far this season and they have to keep addressing if they’re any chance of taking it up the second placed team. Adelaide should get the done here but expect O’Sullivan Beach to take it right up to them hopefully for more than a quarter. 

Prediction: Adelaide Lutheran by 29 points. 

Adelaide Lutheran have triumphed over O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale by 28 points in an exhilarating affair on Saturday afternoon. Trevor Rigney was the clear standout for O’Sullivan Beach with a huge 7 goal performance but proved not enough in the end as Adelaide’s experience and speedy midfield got the job done providing their forwards with brilliant service with forward Jason Dikkenberg taking advantage with 5 goals. A 9 goal first quarter between the two sides set up the tight contest with Adelaide just having that extra gear and keeping composed when kicking for goal despite missing a couple of easy ones they were in control from the opening. O’Sullivan Beach were taking it up to them though staying in the contest trailing by just 9 points going into the main break. It was largely an attacking game with Adelaide kicking away in the third scoring 7.7 to O’Sullivan Beach’s 5.1. In the last term, Adelaide’s composure and smooth skill allowed them to comfortably cruise to a win but if not for some errant goalkicking by the home side in the second quarter the result could have been different. O’Sullivan Beach will take positives from that loss into next Saturday’s game against the last placed Central United. Also, on Saturday Adelaide Lutheran play Flinders University. 

Mitchell Park 19.14-128 defeated Flinders University 9.7-61

This match doesn’t look to even anymore. Mitchell Park’s stunning rise up the ladder has been a spectacle to watch while Flinders University’s impressive start to the season looks like ancient history as they have struggled for form since. Mitchell Park look the goods here and are running over teams like never before and they’ll be expected to do the exact same in this one. Last year these were the two bottom teams although Mitchell Park found some form late in the season and have steadily improved on that ever since. Now they have arrived they look like a contender such is the quickness of a turnaround in form and fortune. Flinders must start well if there any chance of staying in this one, if they do then they could be a slight chance, but Mitchell Park are in some kind of form lately and look too good here, expect a good win here. 

Prediction: Mitchell Park by 39 points. 

A huge 5 goal performance by Jake Spencely has inspired Mitchell Park to another impressive win, comfortably accounting for Flinders University by 67 points on Saturday afternoon. A 4 goal to 1 first term set up the win as Mitchell Park jumped the visitors scoring early and gaining a tight grip on the contest early. The momentum continued with their home fans behind them as they scored another 5 goals in the second term to take a handy 33-point lead into the main break. Flinders had barely any answers scoring their goals largely from Mitchell Park mistakes rather than winning the ball properly. Mitchell Park held firm from there and not getting too carried away with ball in hand as the midfield set up their forwards with good ball. Flinders improved a little in the second half with a sort of impressive third term but were scoreless in the last as they struggled to find any momentum going forward. Mitchell Park will be quickly looking to next huge clash with the top of the table Brahma Lodge next Saturday afternoon while Flinders University come up against Adelaide Lutheran also next Saturday afternoon. 

To continued reading please click here to download.