AS THE North Central Football League continues to move ahead, St Arnaud and Donald find themselves on the wrong side of the ledge a third of the way through the season.
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St Arnaud v Charlton
THE Saints have what appears to be their best chance so far this year to register a first win of the season when it plays Charlton on Saturday.
Coach Jason DeGraaf said it would be a good chance for his side to measure up against a side in a similar position on the ladder.
“We already know we are a fair bit behind the top teams but this week gives us an opportunity to find out where we sit opposed to sides in similar positions,” he said.
“We will know a lot more about the side by five o’clock on Saturday.”
In the first five rounds of the season the side has challenged the best sides in the completion but has been unable to stick with it for a full four quarters.
Charlton have won just one game to this point of the season but are a side to be wary of coming off last year’s premiership.
“We still have to take the same approach as though we are playing with the top side,” he said.
“Every week the challenge is in front of the full 21 to perform as a team.”
The young side has had different players step up at different times in the first five rounds. DeGraaf said he will look to his midfield group to continue to lift against Charlton.
“We have been winning as much contested ball as the opposition but we are not as clean once we get it on the outside,” he said. “There is a need to move the ball cleaner and deliver it with intent into the forward 50.
“It is about having the skill level and composure to spot up the targets to give them an opportunity.”
Donald v Birchip-Watchem
THE Royal Blues will host Birchip-Watchem in what will be a tough match up for the side on Saturday. The Bull are third on the ladder after five rounds but have just one more win than the young, fifth-placed Donald side. The home side has been strong out of the blocks this season but have struggled to maintain the intensity for four quarters, something it needs to do against the Bulls.
