Hamilton Olympic meet Edgeworth Eagles in a clash that has all the hallmarks of being one of the games of the season.
Match of the Round
Hamilton Olympic v Edgeworth Eagles
2.30pm, Sunday 17th July at Darling Street Oval
Last Meeting: Hamilton 3 Edgeworth 2 at Jack McLaughlan Oval, Friday 6th May 2016
Ladder: Hamilton 2nd (31pts) Edgeworth 1st (34)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Hamilton – Won Bears 3-1 (a), Drew Jaffas 2-2 (h), Won Blues 6-0 (h)
Lambton – Lost Phoenix 3-2 (h), Drew Olympic 2-2 (a), Won Weston 3-1 (a)
Bottom Line
The last time these two sides clashed – back in round five at Jack McLaughlan Oval – it was a cracking contest. It took a Tommy Spencer goal midway through the second half to get the job done for the visitors on that night, as well as some brilliant late goalkeeping from Jim Fogarty.
But, Edgeworth seem like a different team now to the one that started 2016. Coach Damian Zane thought his sides intensity at training went up a notch before their round eight clash at Cooks Square Park against Maitland, and the stats don’t lie.
Attacking wise Edgeworth’s stats aren’t too different scoring 21 goals in the opening seven matches, compared to 19 in the last six. However, defensively there is a stark contrast, with the Eagles conceding just three goals in their last six matches. In contrast, they conceded eight goals in their opening seven matches.
Key: The final fifteen minutes. Scored 15 Conceded 0. That is Edgeworth’s stats in the final fifteen minutes of matches this season. Hamilton stopped them in this period in round five and they will need to do it again.
Broadmeadow Magic v Newcastle Jets Youth
2.30pm, Saturday 16th July at Magic Park
Last Meeting: Broadmeadow 4 Jets Youth 1 at Magic Park, Saturday 7th May 2016
Ladder: Broadmeadow 3rd (25) Jets Youth 6th (14)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Broadmeadow – Lost Eagles 2-0 (a), Won Bears 1-0 (a), Won Jaffas 4-2 (a)
Jets Youth – Lost Eagles 4-2 (a), Won Blues 4-0 (a), Won Phoenix 4-3 (h)
Bottom Line
This match shapes up as a potential danger game for Broadmeadow, and even though they beat the Jets Youth convincingly back in round five, the young Jets have improved considerably since the start of the season.
Broadmeadow have dominated their last three clashes with the Youth side winning those by a combined margin of 14-5 and will be looking for nothing less than three points to cement their spot in the top four. Their loss at Edgeworth on the weekend has all but ended hopes of a first minor premiership since 2013, but currently, they sit firmly entrenched in the four, six points clear of fourth-placed Maitland who have a game in hand.
Key: The Jets’ defence. If they bring the defensive quality they have shown of late, Magic will be given a real test.
Valentine Phoenix v Weston Workers Bears
3pm Saturday 16th July at Blacksmiths Oval
Last Meeting: Valentine 2 Weston 1 at Rockwell Automation Park, Sunday 8th May 2016
Ladder: Valentine 7th (14) Weston 10th (2)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Valentine – Won Jaffas 3-2 (a), Lost Rosebud 2-0 (h), Won Magpies 1-0 (a)
Weston – Lost Olympic 3-1 (h), Lost Magic 1-0 (a), Lost Jaffas 3-1 (h)
Bottom Line
Anything less than a win for Valentine in this one will see their finals hopes all but disappear, and they will need to break a recent trend if they are to claim the three points. The Phoenix have been up and down over the last six matches with an LWLWLW trend over those games. So going off that, this match is supposed to be a loss.
Away from the stats though and Valentine have proved a lot of people wrong this season. Tipped to finish last at the start of the season Valentine have come into their own the last few weeks and seem to be growing with every match.
Key: Which Valentine side will turn up? If they being a performance similar to the one they showed against Lambton last weekend the Phoenix will put themselves in the box seat to make it two wins in a row for the first time this season.
Charlestown City Blues v Lambton Jaffas
2.30pm Sunday 17th July at Lisle Carr Oval
Last Meeting: Charlestown 3 Lambton 1 at Arthur Edden Oval, Saturday 7th May 2016
Ladder: Charlestown 5th (17) Lambton 8th (12)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Charlestown – Won Rosebuds 3-1 (a), Lost Magpies 2-0 (h), Lost Olympic 6-0 (a)
Lambton – Lost Phoenix 3-2 (h), Drew Olympic 2-2 (a), Won Bears 3-1 (a)
Bottom Line
Charlestown will be looking to continue their push towards the finals when they meet the Lambton Jaffas at home on Sunday. Depending on Maitland’s result against Adamstown, the Blues could find themselves inside the top four by the end of the weekend if they can claim all three points against the Jaffas.
An incredible statistic in clashes between these two sides is that five of the last six clashes have been decided by a 3-1 scoreline – three have been won by the Jaffas and two by Charlestown. But, it has been the Jaffas of late who have had the better of the head to head results winning three of the last four matches against the Blues. Charlestown’s only win coming in their match-up in round five earlier this year.
Key: Can the Jaffas young guns step up again to make up for Jobe Wheelhouse’s absence?
Maitland Magpies v Adamstown Rosebud
2.30pm Sunday 17th July at Cooks Square Park
Last Meeting: Maitland 6 Adamstown 1 at Adamstown Oval, Sunday 8th May 2016
Ladder: Maitland 4th (19) Adamstown 9th (11)
Past 3 Starts (Most Recent First):
Maitland – Won Blues 2-0 (a), Lost Phoenix 1-0 (h), Lost Magic 3-0 (a)
Adamstown – Lost Blues 3-1 (h), Won Phoenix 2-0 (a), Lost Eagles 2-0 (a)
Bottom Line
Maitland will be looking to consolidate their place in the top four when they take on the Rosebuds on Sunday at Cooks Square Park. The two sides met back in round five and by just looking at the result, you would think Maitland did it easily.
But, it wasn’t as straightforward as it seems. Adamstown’s Thom Lino put them ahead inside the opening ten minutes before keeper Paul Bitz was sent from the field for pulling down Maitland striker Ben Martin. In the remaining 80 minutes of 11 versus 10, Maitland piled on the goals but provided there are no red cards in this one the result will be a lot tighter.
Key: Can Adamstown bring the form they showed in the five matches before last weekend’s loss? If they can, an upset is on the cards.
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