Port Lincoln football
Wayback v Mallee Park, Saturday, Centenary Oval, 2.40pm
SOME may call this contest a matter of redemption for Mallee Park, but rest assured, after talking to Mallee Park president Joe Burgoyne, their grand final loss to Wayback last year is done and dusted ... the Peckers have moved on and are fully focused on what will happen this year.
No doubt Wayback coach Scott Clark will ask for honesty to club and team, which was a major factor to winning last year's premiership.
The Demons' losses of Adam Whittaker, Jess Whitaker, Stephen Hammond, and Steve Parsons are losses that no club can afford.
The big gain is Matt Keatly, a two time Maddigan Medal winner from Port Augusta, a mid-fielder reported to have silky smooth skills, equally talented both sides of the body and finds plenty of the footy. With Matt Goodwin reported to be unavailable, Keatly is the perfect replacement in this contest and the midfield contest will no doubt be a deciding factor to the end result.
As not having seen Wayback in any trials it begs the question: who will replace the dynamic Adam Whittaker at full back and the goal kicking wizardry of Kane Williams reported to be unavailable to mid-June through work commitments?
All eyes will be on who ever gets the job of filling these key positions.
Ben Sampson showed at the end of the season that he is a player of great potential and his games in the final series proved that, and he now becomes an important player.
Mark Blight in ruck will give his on-ball brigade every chance of first use at the stoppages and the will of the wisp Murray Kelsh across half forward and in the mid field, will find plenty of the footy.
Clayton Millard is a player to watch and Dene Rodd, who will play on the ball, is now a fully qualified senior in his first year and will give Demon supporters great value.
All the news about new player Wayne Langford across half back is all good.
The Mallee Park Peckers have signed six players that are proven beyond any doubt, starting with William Johncock, Kynan Miller, Scott Young, Clifford Warrior, Russell Carbine and the miracle man, Malcolm Miller, who can prove to be the most dangerous roving forward in the competition.
Harry Miller in the midfield and the impressive Jeremy Jackamara at centre half back, who continually is at the drop of the ball, will bring the running Peckers into the game, including Michael Burgoyne Jnr and Kingsley Betts, who can also turn it on up forward, as well as one of the best utility players in the league, Devlin Walsh.
Young players to keep the Peckers pecking are Joseph Burgoyne, James Blewitt and Phillip Kartinyeri.
Looking for a player to replace leading goal kicker Phillip Dudley and half forward Dean Dudley is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, and the Peckers may look for Lincoln Blewitt with Scott Young, who both showed out in the pre-season.
The Peckers love to run the ball and a key marking forward is a necessity to complete their entertaining style of football.
The Peckers' mix of experienced players with the developing young players will see them competitive, and if they have a problem it is the lack of tall players.
Tip: will the Demons suffer from the premiership honeymoon period? We should see the Demons in a top two finish, but in round one expect a tight game with the Peckers' leg speed the difference.
Peckers to win.
Email a friend