Round 7 Preview from the Budget

[Wedgie]

RESTED REDLEGS READY TO REPEL PANTHERS

The Wrap - Norwood

If they win, they could jump as high as second. If they lose, they could drop as low as seventh. Yep, it’s a big game for the fifth-placed Legs!

Up against enigmatic South Adelaide, Norwood plays host at Coopers Stadium on Friday night in a vital clash given the evenness of the competition. The Panthers themselves could potentially rise from sixth to third with a win.

The remainder of Round 7 will then be decided on Saturday afternoon, with the pick of the three games undoubtedly the North v Port contest at Prospect. The top-of-the-table tussle is an early finals preview and an opportunity for one combatant to inflict the first psychological blow of the year against the other.

The Eagles v Sturt encounter at Woodville – the first game at the ground this year – will also have significant consequences for the two struggling teams, while West Adelaide, searching for its breakthrough win in 2006, welcomes third-ranked Glenelg to Broadspectrum Oval.


REDLEGS vs PANTHERS
In what is a difficult match to predict, there is one absolute certainty at The Parade … there’ll be a lot of handballing! Ranked second and first for number of handballs per game, Norwood and South are happy to run the pill through the lines – no-one more so than Panther Michael Handby who’s had an astonishing 100 handballs in five games!

Both clubs are around the mark and will view the other as a serious rival for a top five berth, so this game is crucial.

If the Redlegs can get off to a good start – they haven’t led at half-time this season – it’ll make their job much easier, but against a side with as much firepower as South, a four-quarter effort is required.


EAGLES vs DOUBLE BLUES
The Blues found some form last week against West, and will be buoyed by the performances of youngsters Tom Hurley and Craig Taylor, but the big test is how they back up after their first win of the season.

The Eagles have had Sturt’s measure in their past seven meetings – by an average winning margin of 43 points – and will be keen to succeed in their first outing at Woodville Oval this year.

The signs are certainly better for Brenton Phillips, but his Blue boys haven’t turned the corner just yet and may return to Struggle Town on Saturday.


BLOODS vs TIGERS
West Adelaide will be hoping to build on its past record against Glenelg, which has seen the Bloods win 13 of their past 15 games against the Tigers.

But West is struggling and last week’s massive loss to Sturt seemed to deflate Wayne Weidemann’s boys even more.

Complacency in the Bay camp is perhaps West’s best chance of stealing this game, but don’t count on it.


ROOSTERS vs MAGPIES
Their loss to Central last Friday night combined with a mounting injury list has taken some of the gloss off the Roosters’ “1 vs 2” match-up against Port, but still expect a fierce battle.

With the likes of Darryl Wintle (hamstring), Steven Koops (hamstring), Brett White (hamstring) and Daniel Hargraves (knee) on the sidelines, Port has a real chance to expose North’s depth and grab a two-game cushion at the top of the ladder.

The Roosters are obviously a talented side, but are worryingly undermanned at the minute, and will struggle to counter the class of Port … this time.


Courtesy of the South Australian Football Budget
Story by Kieran Hall

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