It is crunch time in the 2022 Steeline Bendigo Bank Limestone Coast Football Association season, with the penultimate round upon us this weekend.
After experiencing just its second defeat of the season, Gambier Centrals has little time to pick itself up as another massive contest looms.
The Lions will welcome International to MGA Park in the big Sunday afternoon battle.
In the senior men’s arena, the honours are currently even with the visiting team prevailing on both occasions where only one goal split the rivals.
Brodey Koop’s team fought hard against Apollo last week, but could not find its best and lost the heated clash after conceding five goals.
The Lions will know they cannot afford to provide Inter with a similar amount of scoring opportunities with Matthew Bueti in freakish form.
While Bueti has had a ball kicking goal after goal against Blue Lake and Millicent recently, he knows Centrals will be different gravy and the result will not be clear until the 90 minutes are up.
Inter will also be hoping to see a return of a full-strength outfit after missing around eight players due to sickness and these games always require teams to be at their best.
The women’s contest played at MGA Park on Saturday afternoon also has plenty of potential.
International still enjoys a strong advantage at the top of the ladder, but its personnel on and off the pitch was heavily affected from isolation.
If some of the big names such as Ella Doody are unable to get up for the clash, the Lions may sense a chance to cause Inter similar headaches to the ones Millicent created during their unexpected 1-1 draw last weekend.
Centrals needs to start winning again otherwise it could see its top-four position slip away.
The Lions have lost five of their last six games and must reverse this trend to carry some momentum into the finals or face the possibility of being upstaged by Millicent.
Coach Scott Dickson would have been pleased to see captain Kiah Connolly return with ease and reestablish her connection with Olivia Gwilym and Rachel Muzaliwa and hopes these names can make some magic.
Apollo’s senior women are one of the form sides of the competition and they have their sights set on taking the challenge to the team directly above them Blue Lake.
The blue and white are on a high after beating Centrals and drawing with Inter and Blue Lake which means they have not lost for seven weeks.
The impressive run has been fronted by Daylia Daylia, Demi Atkin and Arabella Calderwood and they will aim to meet the high standards set by Lauren Frost, Chelsea Frost and Aimee Brooks.
The Rangers are not short of momentum themselves following a big 12-0 win over Naracoorte which put them on the winner’s list again.
Following a stunning win in the Lions’ Den, Apollo’s men’s team is peaking at the right time and hopes to continue its upward trajectory with a win over Blue Lake.
Although James Stephenson’s team covers Andy Armandi’s outfit depth and talent wise, the Rangers will need to win to keep their distant finals’ dream alive.
It might require a small miracle, but Blue Lake will give it everything in the hope of catching Apollo off guard.
The two travelling teams will converge at McLaughlin Park where Millicent hosts Naracoorte.
The visiting men’s team will believe the clash is a strong opportunity to further cement its top-four position having scored 11 goals in both previous clashes.
Emma Lang has pushed her way into the senior men’s team in recent weeks and could be in for another big day.
She has been the backbone behind the strong performances made by Millicent’s senior women and this weekend looms as a vital moment to boost their goal difference as they continue to close in on Centrals for fourth.
Last Saturday was also supposed to be the unveiling of the future direction of the sport, but the LCFA’s State of the Game dinner at the Commodore scheduled was postponed.
Further details to be announced.
