Round 12 - Central v North @ Elizabeth
Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:28 pmSo after coming off a much needed bye, despite having plenty of injuries still, the Dogs face a very in form Roosters side at home this Saturday.
North are coming off an 80+ point thumping of the Double Blues, who comfortably accounted for the Dogs for a very similar 80+ point margin the week before.
So taking form into consideration, with North winning by as much as they did they last week and the Dogs coming off 2 consecutive losses, you would have to say the Roosters are a real chance to give the reigning premiers three losses in a row.
I think North have been the sleeping giant in a way, slowly finding some form and are starting to gel as a side with a new coach and a new game plan.
Interesting that Daniel Healy will face his old side for the first time at Elizabeth and despite the fact that Centrals have won something like the last 15 out of 17 games played between these 2 sides at Hamra Homes Oval, I think the Roosters have the side to win comfortably again this week.
Looking at the match ups, with Centrals major 2 key defender out with injury (Yves Sibenaler and Justin Hardy) and an undermanned back line, North Adelaide should be able to expose the Dogs through the likes of Damon White, Clint Alleway and Ben Schwarze.
Andrew Hayes and Heath Lawry will be crucial in defence for the Dogs to counter this Rooster potency, while there are a couple of intruiging midfield match ups, as there usually is between these two sides.
The battles that will take place between the Gowans boys, Scott Dutschke, Ian Callinan and Chad O'Sullivan, lining up against North's on ball brigade with the likes of the inform Rhys Archard, Leigh Ryswyk, Jimmy Allan, Toby Stribling and Matty Wright sohould be worth the price of admission alone.
Cain Ackland has been in good form for North recently, from what I have seen of him, so his battle against Centrals Jonathon Griffin will be another exiting aspect to this game. Also interesting to note that ruckman Brett O'Hara, returning through the reserves for North from a long term knee injury, was BOG for the Rooster's reserves in their upset win over top placed Sturt and must be pushing for selection.
Daniel Havelberg (if he passes a fitness test on the hamstring and comes back in the side) will be a vital cog for the Dogs as his versatility has been missed for them in recent weeks, and with North's tall forward line, as mentioned above, Havelberg may be required down back but then may be able to pinch hit up forward if needed by Centrals coach Roy Laird.
In saying all this, I think many will expect the Dogs to rebound and come out firing after a freshening up with the bye and a hunger to want to find some form, with many likely to tip Centrals. For me, I just think North, pretty much at full strength, will have too much strength and height all over the ground for the Dogs so I think the Roosters will record a rare win out at Elizabeth.
North by 29 points.
North are coming off an 80+ point thumping of the Double Blues, who comfortably accounted for the Dogs for a very similar 80+ point margin the week before.
So taking form into consideration, with North winning by as much as they did they last week and the Dogs coming off 2 consecutive losses, you would have to say the Roosters are a real chance to give the reigning premiers three losses in a row.
I think North have been the sleeping giant in a way, slowly finding some form and are starting to gel as a side with a new coach and a new game plan.
Interesting that Daniel Healy will face his old side for the first time at Elizabeth and despite the fact that Centrals have won something like the last 15 out of 17 games played between these 2 sides at Hamra Homes Oval, I think the Roosters have the side to win comfortably again this week.
Looking at the match ups, with Centrals major 2 key defender out with injury (Yves Sibenaler and Justin Hardy) and an undermanned back line, North Adelaide should be able to expose the Dogs through the likes of Damon White, Clint Alleway and Ben Schwarze.
Andrew Hayes and Heath Lawry will be crucial in defence for the Dogs to counter this Rooster potency, while there are a couple of intruiging midfield match ups, as there usually is between these two sides.
The battles that will take place between the Gowans boys, Scott Dutschke, Ian Callinan and Chad O'Sullivan, lining up against North's on ball brigade with the likes of the inform Rhys Archard, Leigh Ryswyk, Jimmy Allan, Toby Stribling and Matty Wright sohould be worth the price of admission alone.
Cain Ackland has been in good form for North recently, from what I have seen of him, so his battle against Centrals Jonathon Griffin will be another exiting aspect to this game. Also interesting to note that ruckman Brett O'Hara, returning through the reserves for North from a long term knee injury, was BOG for the Rooster's reserves in their upset win over top placed Sturt and must be pushing for selection.
Daniel Havelberg (if he passes a fitness test on the hamstring and comes back in the side) will be a vital cog for the Dogs as his versatility has been missed for them in recent weeks, and with North's tall forward line, as mentioned above, Havelberg may be required down back but then may be able to pinch hit up forward if needed by Centrals coach Roy Laird.
In saying all this, I think many will expect the Dogs to rebound and come out firing after a freshening up with the bye and a hunger to want to find some form, with many likely to tip Centrals. For me, I just think North, pretty much at full strength, will have too much strength and height all over the ground for the Dogs so I think the Roosters will record a rare win out at Elizabeth.
North by 29 points.
