SWFL round eight preview: ladder starts to take shape

Check out our preview of the weekend’s games and let us know who you think will win.

Ladder-leader Donnybrook will be looking to extend its winning streak to six games when it travels to Sir Stewart Bovell Park to take on Busselton on Saturday afternoon.

The Dons have rocketed to the top of ladder on the back of a strong defence, with the team conceding an average of just under 47 points a game over the last five rounds.

Despite their measly defence, the Dons aren’t know for their free scoring, so it’s more than likely that this game will be a low scoring affair.

It will be interesting to see whether Busselton’s Steve Cameron and Reegan Mrsich will be able to keep up their goal kicking form or whether the Magpies will be feeling the loss of Aidan Fraser and Jed Kemp. 

Prediction: Donnybrook by 17 points.

Last season’s grand finallist Harvey Brunswick Leschenault sits third on the ladder and picked its most impressive win of the season last weekend against Carey Park.

The Lions have struggled to score throughout the season, but they finally broke the 100 point barrier last week on the back of four-goal games from Taine Williams and David Newman.

Collie is winless in its last five games and now sits on the bottom of the ladder. The Eagles held control over the Bulls for most of last week’s game but lacked the fitness to hold onto the lead in the final quarter.

The most interesting match-up will be between the Lions’ Mitch Andrews and the Eagles’ Paul Rinder in the ruck, with both players being their team’s most consistent players across the season.

If the Lions are able to build on their new-found ability to score, the Eagles could be looking at another long day on Saturday.

Prediction: Harvey Brunswick Leschenault by 32 points.

Carey Park were one of the strongest performers over the first month or so of the season, but their performances have tailed off over the last two weeks.

The Panthers were one of the higher scoring teams but have found goals harder to come by in the last fortnight, failing to kick more than ten goals in either game.

The Hawks sit one game off the top of the ladder after claiming wins in three of their last four games.

Matt Jukes and Jack Hick have provided good service up forward and the Hawks were buoyed by the return of Tim Noakes, who kicked four goals in his first game last week.

With the Panthers missing their early season stars in the Humphries brothers, the Hawks will feel confident of picking up their fifth win on Sunday. 

Prediction: Augusta Margaret River by 14 points.

Probably the most interesting game of the round is the Sunday afternoon clash between Eaton and South Bunbury at Glen Huon Reserve.

The two teams are separated by just one win and two positions on the ladder, with Eaton clinging onto the final spot in the top five.

The Boomers put in a good performance last week but fell by a single goal to ladder leader Donnybrook, while South Bunbury fell four points short in the derby against Bunbury.

This will probably be a close game, with the five of the Tigers’ seven games this season decided by 14 points or less.

Prediction: Eaton Boomers by seven points.

The Bulls pulled themselves off the bottom of the ladder with a thrilling come-from-behind win over Collie last week, however it came at a cost as Ryan Nye and Reece Blechynden picked up injuries.

The pair, who have kicked 27 goals between them, lead the Bulls goal kicking, which could spell disaster if they are unable to play this week.

The Bulls have conceded the most points per game this season, which would be a worry coming up against the Bulldogs, who boast the league’s leading goal kicker Brett Peake.

The Bulls have shown improvement under new coach Brendon Jones, but the strength of the Bunbury midfield may be too much, especially if Harvey are limited by injuries.

Prediction: Bunbury by 40 points.

Read more from round seven of the 2018 South West Football League season: