By Marcus Uhe
We’re officially turning for home in the Outer East Football Netball season with matches to take on greater significance as finals rapidly approach.
So much so that Officer coach Daniel Charles labelled his side’s clash with Berwick Springs as “must win”.
Officer has dropped its last two after achieving a positive win-loss record through the first seven weeks, and dropped points against a bottom-three side in Monbulk last week.
The Titans, while stuck to the foot of the ladder, had Officer’s measure in Division One last season, and won’t be easy beats as the prospect of relegation stares them dead in the face.
“We’ve got to come out and actually prove that we belong in this grade,” Charles said.
“We’ve dropped the ball in the last few weeks and hopefully if we can get a win and play well against Berwick Springs, and give the boys a little more confidence.”
If Pakenham wants to prove worthy of a place in the top six, then it would do its credentials no harm by downing Upwey Tecoma at home.
The two played out a gripping elimination final in 2023 in a finals campaign that sealed Paul Carbis’ desire to coach the Lions in 2024.
Jake Thompson’s three goals in the final term proved the match-winning cameo as the Lions withstood a late charge from the Tigers to seal progression to the following week.
Since then, however, they’ve won three times from ten matches.
A five game losing streak would prove almost detrimental to Pakenham’s hopes of September action, with repeat fixtures against Woori Yallock and Narre Warren still to come in the second half of the season.
The clock is also ticking for Gembrook Cockatoo, and this week face one of the competition’s resurgent sides in Monbulk.
The Hawks have won their last two and climbed out of the bottom three, while the Brookers are winless since round three, and have dropped to 11th place as a result.
With relegation looming in the back half of the season, it’s a contest that neither side can afford to drop.
Monbulk’s superior percentage gives the Hawks an upper hand in the potential late-season seeding battle, something the Brookers have the chance to whittle away.
Emerald looks set for a tough outing against Wandin, but Bombers’ coach Sein Clearihan is excited for the challenge.
“That’s what you want, you want to be challenged more than anything,” he said.
“You’ve got to see where you’re at; we know where we are against Berwick Springs, and we know where we are, but when we play top sides, that’s when we know, this is where the football club’s at, (and) how far off the mark are we?
“If you’re playing Premier Division football and mixing it with the top three or four sides consistently I reckon that’s good for the football side.”
Narre Warren and Woori Yallock, meanwhile, shapes as one of the must-see contests of 2024.
Tips: Pakenham v UPWEY TECOMA, NARRE WARREN v Woori Yallock, Emerald v WANDIN, OLINDA FERNY CREEK v Mt Evelyn, OFFICER v Berwick Springs, MONBULK v Gembrook Cockatoo.
