Division 1 Preview: Round 6

Feeling rightly chipper after a successful 5/5 week tipping in the Division 1 competition in Round 5, you would think that confidence would be transferable to the subsequent round – but there are some tough contests coming up this week which make for excellent viewing, albeit difficult for punting.

Let’s kick of the preview with, what I think, promises to be the match of the round when ladder leaders Hampton Rovers take on Therry Penola. The Rovers are sitting pretty with a staggering 428%, but it will be a different kind of contest when facing the third placed Lions as compared to their recent wins against lower placed West Brunswick AFC (7th), Brunswick NOBSPC (9th) and Ivanhoe (10th). Look out for the battle between sharpshooters Corey Bannister (Therry Penola) and Joshua Mcpherson (Hampton Rovers), who sit on an impressive 25 and 24 goals respectively for the season thus far.

Ormond will want to continue their winning ways in Round 6 when they welcome Brunswick NOBSPC to EE Gunn Reserve. This second placed versus ninth placed match-up puts Ormond plainly in the favourites book, but their narrow 14 point victory in Round 5 to Oakleigh may make you query just how overpowering the Monders are at this early stage of the season.

Ivanhoe will host Kew at Ivanhoe Park on what is forecast to be a cold and wet affair. With only one win distinguishing eighth placed Kew and tenth placed Ivanhoe on the ladder, this could just be the opportunity (and the conditions) the Hoes were looking for to notch their first win of the season. The Bears will be rueing their missed opportunity in Round 5 to best the Bullants, so look for a spirited effort from Kew in this match-up.

Prahran Assumption are going from strength to strength in the Division 1 competition, and will be confident facing West Brunswick at Toorak Park. The last time these two sides met was on the last day of 2017 when the Two Blues claimed the Division 2 premiership via a 25-point victory at Elsternwick Park. Look for James Musster, Jack Matherson, Will Brereton and Harrison Taylor to continue their excellent form for the Two Blues in this contest, while the Westies will need a consolidated team effort to overcome Prahran’s pressure-style game.

In the final encounter for the round we will see Preston Bullants, coming off a nail-biting 5 point win, host Oakleigh FC, who will be disappointed after falling short to Ormond by 14 points. The Bullants and Oakleigh sit in fifth and sixth place respectively, with a game and 30% points separating them. The Bullants have had a competitive season to date, with their only two losses by a meagre one point and 19 points in Round 1 and Round 4, whilst the Krushers have been on the end of 14 point, 38 point and 51 point losses, admittedly to 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams. It’s a tough contest to call, but look for Preston to consolidate their Round 5 win.