Brahma Lodge sharpen their claws before their September premiership assault. While Adelaide Lutheran slowly muster momentum as the likely challengers to a Tigers flag
By Jordan Sennett Perez
Brahma Lodge 15.12-102 defeated Flinders University 7.8-50
A chance for Brahma to maintain breathing room on top of the ladder between them and the rest of the competition. Flinders University will be hoping the ladder leaders have mercy on them, due to the fact Flinders have been in a steady decline as of late and Brahma are charging towards the finals in ominous fashion, pushing past almost every team that’s in their way. This looms as a pretty straight forward game, although if Flinders had maintained their relatively strong form at the start of the year then this match would’ve been a bit more intriguing. It could still be if Flinders somehow find their A game but up against the ladder leaders who have already got one hand on the minor premiership, it’s simply too big of a challenge. Still though, Brahma can’t get overconfident and simply expect just to win this one comfortably, they were spooked earlier in the year when they were expected to win easily but have been on top of this ever since and will be ready for anything come Saturday.
Prediction: Brahma Lodge by 45 points.
Well this wasn’t entirely expected. Thanks to a strong match saving last quarter, Brahma Lodge have prevailed over Flinders University by 52 points in a largely entertaining affair. Flinders University, to their credit they really pushed the league’s top team as hard as they could in this one staying in the contest, especially in the first quarter. The team’s kicked 7 goals between them making it a largely attacking run and gun first term which saw Brahma take a narrow 3-point lead into the second quarter. Brahma took control in the second term kicking 3 goals but missing some really gettable shots which could’ve seen them take a bigger lead thus keeping Flinders slightly in the contest but with strong control over the game though. Flinders slowly clawed their way back in the third term with Adam Vonow kicking 3 goals to get his side trailing by just 17 points leading into the final term. It was all one-way traffic from with the top team keeping the visitors to a solitary goal which was kicked in junk-time while kicking 6 themselves to cruise home to a comfortable win despite being given a slight scare early on. Eric Hem-Mendes was the star for Brahma with 4 majors while assisting several others. Flinders will take positives out of this improved performance when they face the struggling Central United. Brahma probably have to look at fixing their slow starts and should do it quickly before Saturday’s match against O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale.
O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale 13.6-84 defeated Mitchell Park 11.13-79
This is a very intriguing match up with two teams looking to continue their steady improvement. Mitchell Park have been one of the stories of the year, improving after every outing giving their players more and more confidence each week as rise up the ladder. After struggling for much of last year not much was expected of Mitchell Park but they’ll only get better this season and beyond as they look to become one of the competitions top teams but they must be patient as teams before them have rushed improvement too many times and have paid the price for it. O’Sullivan Beach started the year then were in a big inconsistency rut and have slowly in the last week and a half improved and have tightened up their inconsistency. This match will come down to whose more consistent to put it simply. Who can put in a solid 4 quarter effort, based on form lately, you’d have to say Mitchell park they have taken it up to the top teams even beating one or two and have beaten the teams that they were supposed to beat. O’Sullivan Beach, despite recently improving a bit have played a lot of patches of football and must find a way to put in a full game’s effort and their slow starts are an issue often leaving them with too big a lead to chase. This could go anywhere but Mitchell Park just look a bit better and more well-rounded here.
Prediction: Mitchell Park by 27 points.
Now that was a match. O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale have prevailed over Mitchell Park by 5 points in one of the thrilling encounters of the year. Trevor Rigney again was the star for the home side with a huge 6 goals keeping his side in it and providing numerous other assists along the way with fellow teammate Adam Rigney supporting well with 3 goals. Mitchell Park missed a big opportunity in this game, leading by 3 into quarter time then conceding 6 goals to trail by 26 going into half-time, the visitors turned on the gas in a big way in the third term clawing their way back kicking 4.6 to 1-point to take a narrow 3-point lead into the last quarter. 4.6 doesn’t read too well, with some really gettable goals missed as Mitchell Park despite their dominance in the third quarter appeared a little flustered and not as composed as they appeared to be. Nathan Risitano was the standout in Mitchell Park’s resurgence during the third term with 4 goals but like his team missed a couple of easy shots on goal. O’Sullivan Beach then found that extra gear in the fourth term ultimately coming out triumphant therefore leaving the visitors licking their wounds and ruing a missed opportunity. Mitchell Park need to quickly rebound ahead of next Saturday’s huge clash with Adelaide Lutheran while O’Sullivan Beach have an even harder challenge against the league leaders Brahma Lodge also next Saturday.
Adelaide Lutheran 33.22-220 defeated Central United 5.4-34
Well this isn’t too much of a match-up. Adelaide Lutheran play a very struggling and lowly Central United this Saturday afternoon in what many pundits and fans expect to be a big blowout. Adelaide are the competitions second best team not too far behind ladder leaders in Brahma Lodge in second place while Central United are as low as low can be in last place and are in all sorts at the moment. Many are hoping Adelaide have mercy on United and don’t punish them as badly as some other teams have previously this season. Adelaide will be looking to add onto their already strong percentage in this one and will take no prisoners against such a lowly team like United. For the visiting team, they simply must put in effort otherwise they’re at risk of suffering yet another blowout and further disgrace to the club. Only time will tell come this Saturday.
Prediction: Adelaide Lutheran by 86 points.
What a disgrace. Adelaide Lutheran have continued their strong run into the finals which saw them absolutely crush and dismember a woeful Central United by 186 points on Saturday afternoon. Waylon Miller, Jacob Stollznow, Daniel Burgess and Rowan Mieler each scored 4 goals in an emphatic and bruising display jumping United the second the ball was bounced hunting at every turn. The game was well and truly over at quarter time with home side leading by 63 points and a further 107 points going into half time. It wasn’t even a contest, a challenge whatever you want to call it, it was simply so ugly and such a huge gap between the two sides people were pinching themselves to see if it was a nightmare or not that they were experiencing. A further 10 goals in the third term and another 6 to bring the total goals tally for Adelaide to 33 was just more shame and misery for United. One of the worst and most disgraceful performances in recent memory. Central United will be hoping for some sort of improvement come next week’s game against Flinders University while Adelaide Lutheran have got an ever improving Mitchell Park on their hands also next Saturday afternoon.
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