Welcome back to GV Senior Football ladies and gents! Here’s hoping for another cracking season. I’ll try and do better with the quality writing and humour that you’ve come to expect from your good buddy Staffs next week, but for this week I’ve kept it relatively straight up, as I’ve run out of material. Hopefully the games this week can provide some humour so I can bring it to you hard and fast as the season progresses.
DIVISION 1
Saturday June 18 – Ranger Field, Croydon
Melbourne University Royals (2015: Last Place, 3-9) vs Monash Warriors (2015: Runners-Up, 12-2)
Last Time: Week 8, 2015: Warriors 30, Royals 6
The Monash Warriors are coming off another strong season where they narrowly missed out on a 4th consecutive VicBowl, led by outstanding play from Dom Dearman and Luke Jackson. The Royals on the other hand finished last season at the bottom of the GV Division 1 standings, despite showing significant improvement along the way, led by some incredible young talent that had been developed in their junior program, including QB Dylan Letoga. Both teams have had a terrific off-season in recruiting, and I expect this game to be of the highest calibre and a quality showcase of the best of Victorian Football. Not the quality showcase available on The Price is Right, but still pretty good. I’ll give the duke to the Warriors in this game, who have the edge in experience.
Stafford’s “Larry Emdur” Prediction: Warriors 28, Royals 20
Croydon Rangers (2015: Champions, 10-4) vs Western Crusaders (2015: 4th Place, 6-7)
Last Time: Week 13, 2015: Crusaders 22, Rangers 13
The Rangers are coming off of their first championship since 2004, and in a week one clash will take on the only team they were unable to defeat in their Championship year, the Western Crusaders. The Rangers are led well by a savvy group of veterans on both sides of the ball, and will be looking to start their title defence on the front foot on home soil. The Crusaders are a physical outfit on both offence and defence, using the Offset I and Wishbone offences effectively and possessing the ultimate game changer in reigning league MVP Jnala Saluni on defence. This should be a fascinating battle featuring both might and finesse, to be thoroughly entertaining.
The Rangers are coming off of their first championship since 2004, and in a week one clash will take on the only team they were unable to defeat in their Championship year, the Western Crusaders. The Rangers are led well by a savvy group of veterans on both sides of the ball, and will be looking to start their title defence on the front foot on home soil. The Crusaders are a physical outfit on both offence and defence, using the Offset I and Wishbone offences effectively and possessing the ultimate game changer in reigning league MVP Jnala Saluni on defence. This should be a fascinating battle featuring both might and finesse, to be thoroughly entertaining.
Stafford’s “I don’t predict games I play in” Prediction: Rangers ??, Crusaders ??
Sunday June 19 – Rawling Field, Endeavour Hills
Berwick Miners (2015: 6th Place, 3-9) vs Geelong Buccaneers (2015: 3rd Place, 6-6)
Last Time: Week 10, 2015: Miners 21, Buccaneers 13
As hard as can be to predict the fortunes of a team before they even take the field, word has not been positive out of Berwick this off-season. They have endured a mass exodus of players and personnel and rumour has it they have struggled to meet the minimum player deadline. While there is still talent at the club, they draw one of the toughest teams in the league first up. The Geelong Buccaneers were a point away from going back to the big dance again last year, and boast one the most experienced, cohesive and talented units in the game, led by Layke Rossiello and Daniel Noonan. For their sake I hope it’s not the case, but this game could foreshadow a very long season for the dudes in Orange and Black. The Buccaneers will be too strong in all three phases.
Stafford’s “Three Phases Stadium” Prediction: Buccaneers 40, Miners 6
Bye : South Eastern Predators
Happy Football this week everybody, hope you enjoy the games at all venues. As was the case last year, Gridiron Downunder are looking for another correspondent to provide previews and reports on games taking place in the Division 2 season as well, so that we can get full coverage of our league here in Victoria. If you know of anybody, or are interested in doing it yourself, please contact us as soon as possible.
Peace Out!
