Sports Desk
Many great fixtures are pencilled in across the Star News Group readership this weekend but a grand final rematch in West Gippsland deserves to take top billing.
Reigning champions Tooradin-Dalmore host Phillip Island in a game that is sure to have serious ramifications at the pointy end of the ladder.
If the Seagulls salute on their home deck, they move three games clear of the Bulldogs – who have played one less game.
The Seagulls are looking good, and it’s almost impossible to see the Bulldogs finishing in front of Tooradin if the Seagulls prevail this week.
Phillip Island was held to just one goal in the first half against Inverloch-Kongwak last week, and with Tooradin’s backline boasting the likes of Cooper Shipp, Ray Lengyel, Brad Lenders, Adam Oxley, Jehi Esler, Adam Galea and skipper Jordy Kelly, it’s hard to see the visitors kicking a winning score.
Cam Pedersen looms as a danger, but it’s the Seagulls by 14 points.
The other intriguing matchup in the WGFNC sees Nar Nar Goon host an improving Garfield at Spencer Street.
The Goon thumped the Stars last season, but the young Garfield side is improving and will put up a much-better fight.
“We’re really looking forward to it, it’s a massive challenge for us to see where we’re at, because we rate Nar Nar Goon really highly…they should be top-three this year and gave us a hiding both times last year,” Garfield coach Paul Carbis said.
“We’ve got to concentrate on playing our way and see where that takes us.
“We’re rivals, we’ve got respect for them, and so it should be a great day.”
The Stars are improving, and the Goon will be without spearhead Dermott Yawney – who fractured his finger last week – but Justin Stanton’s men will still be too good.
Southern League Division Two team Hampton Park this week will get a true indication of where it is at with a clash against premiership favourite East Brighton.
The Redbacks have started the season by comfortably accounting for Black Rock and East Malvern.
However with the former having come up from Division Three and the latter coming down from Division One, it is hard to get an accurate gauge of where each sits.
East Brighton presents an opportunity to beat a team that is loaded full of well-regarded recruits and several big bodies.
New coach Hayden Stanton has instilled a new game plan that uses the run and gun of the youth to the club’s advantage more, with their home facility this season suited to that style of footy.
The standards he has brought in since arriving have been evident by some of the quality that is stuck playing reserves footy.
Beating, or even pushing East Brighton, which took care of Doveton by 92 points on the weekend, would demonstrate Stanton’s system stacks up and the talent is capable of matching it with the best.
The Magpies of Narre Warren fly into the hills to tackle Wandin in Outer East Premier Division action.
Two sides, which had big wins in round one, get the opportunity to prove their mettle in a significant contest that could be a preview to finals action in September.
Narre Warren beat Wandin three times in 2022, including in a semi-final by 35 points.
If the Bulldogs want to prove they are the real deal, there’s no-better chance than this week.
Division One action will see the two most potent offences in the competition go-head-to-head as Berwick Springs host Emerald at Mick Morland Reserve.
The Titans held-off a spirited fight-back from Officer last week but played some borderline unstoppable football in the first half.
Their size advantage ultimately overwhelmed the Kangaroos, and it could be a similar story next week against a young Bombers outfit.
Emerald will be playing with revenge on their mind, however, having fallen to Berwick Springs in an elimination final last year.
