A TOP of the table clash headlines the Coates Talent League action in Round 12, as Gippsland Power host Eastern Ranges in Morwell. Also kicking off the weekend on Saturday afternoon are Greater Western Victoria (GWV) and Northern Knights, who do battle in Ballarat. We preview both fixtures.

WHEN: Saturday June 21, 1:00pm
WHERE: Morwell Recreation Reserve
WATCH: Live via Coates Talent League app

IN A SENTENCE:

Two streaking sides lock horns as Gippsland Power – undefeated in Morwell this year – take on Eastern Ranges, with the hosts hoping to extend their buffer atop the ladder against the second-ranked region.

WHERE THEY SIT:

Gippsland Power – 7-1 | 154.1% | WWWWL
Eastern Ranges – 5-3 | 112.0% | WWWLL

TEAMS:

Gippsland Power

B: 38. B. Roscoe – 22. F. O’Brien – 41. C. Snell
HB: 28. H. Tatterson – 32. L. Masters – 7. W. Duursma
C: 26. M. Stevens – 24. B. Atkins – 9. M. Woodall
HF: 3. S. Grummisch – 2. J. Bills – 36. A. Mounsey
F: 16. J. Scapin – 45. K. Mounsey – 40. X. Ladbrook
FOL: 43. J. Ryan – 17. L. Cheffers – 4. Z. O’Keefe

INT: 5. J. Hilton, 10. C. Templeton, 15. T. Macmillan, 19. Y. Caffieri, 37. K. Boi

Eastern Ranges

B: 37. R. Ali – 31. A. Barker – 47. Z. McGown
HB: 4. B. Lloyd – 25. O. Taylor – 11. M. Gillan
C: 1. B. Chambers – 20. J. Armitage – 33. H. Ryan
HF: 24. C. Sizer – 5. D. Jamieson – 27. R. Hoffman
F: 55. S. Robey – 13. W. Waller – 12. M. Bartlett
FOL: 36. J. Lawrence – 9. J. Landy – 41. S. Devers

INT: 16. T. Swainston, 34. A. Spencer, 38. H. Chapman, 39. M. Reynders, 59. M. Krasnadamskis

ONES TO WATCH:

Gippsland boasts a greater weight of representative talent in this clash, headlined by pick one contender Willem Duursma, who is set to feature across half-back. Outside of the Vic Country crew, midfielders Brodie Atkins and Luke Cheffers have been banging down the door with strong form.

Zachary O’Keefe is set to join the latter pair on-ball, while Adelaide father-son hopeful Mitch Stevens occupies a wing – potentially to rotate with Duursma. Both will hope to retain their Vic Country spots alongside forward Jobe Scapin, who booted three goals last time out.

Eastern heads in without influential pair Xavier Taylor and Lachie Dovaston, along with star prospect Oliver Greeves. That leaves the sole captaincy duties but defender Andrew Barker, who will look to hold down the defensive line alongside combative over-ager Rod Ali.

Vic Metro train-on player Blake Chambers will be keen to impress out on the wing against some quality opposition. The likes of Josiah Landy and Bailey Lloyd should also provide some power and effort through the middle of the ground, of those outside the Vic Metro group.

PREDICTION:

Gippsland’s record at home, let alone its weight of talent, is quite a mountain to overcome. Eastern proved last week it can scale tough obstacles in a defiant victory, but will be even more undermanned for the competition’s most difficult road trip. Power by 15.

WHEN: Saturday June 21. 1:30pm
WHERE: Mars Stadium, Ballarat
WATCH: Live via Coates Talent League app

IN A SENTENCE:

GWV Rebels will hope to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season when they host the Northern Knights at Mars Stadium, with the visitors fresh off a fortnight away.

WHERE THEY SIT:

GWV Rebels – 3-4 | 114.7% | WLWLL
Northern Knights – 4-4 | 87.7% | LWLWW

TEAMS:

GWV Rebels

B: 21. T. Bowman – 25. B. Phillips – 11. R. Holloway
HB: 31. H. Dobson – 50. X. Gleeson – 3. A. Taylor
C: 14. S. Marris – 16. F. Molan – 13. S. Burmeister
HF: 17. C. Kenna – 5. F. Burmeister – 9. T. Byrne
F: 7. H. Hicks – 22. C. McKinnon – 18. C. Glenwright-McGuane
FOL: 23. F. Penry – 1. E. Drever – 4. J. Grayland

INT: 26. W. Shea, 33. A. Elliott, 36. Z. Lubeek, 39. K. Nicholls, 45. C. Finck

Northern Knights

B: 38. T. Eames – 23. G. Stumpf – 21. K. Parker
HB: 27. J. Leeson – 8. Z. Broadbent – 14. R. Commandeur
C: 17. L. Yacoub – 2. S. Murphy – 4. L. Farrar
HF: 3. T. Gresham – 33. L. Shepherd – 41. M. Kayrooz
F: 16. J. Bawden – 15. L. Houndsome – 12. N. Driscoll
FOL: 10. S. Tyrrell – 45. H. White – 29. J. Alder

INT: 7. M. Downes, 18. S. Gayfer, 24. T. Vrkic, 28. R. Ratkovic, 32. H. Lawrence

ONES TO WATCH:

The Rebels are set to be bolstered by the return of Vic Country squad members Talor Byrne and Harley Hicks, who have both been named up forward. At the other end of the ground, Archie Taylor will also press his claims for a representative guernsey with his speed off half-back.

GWV’s forwardline was humming last week, largely thanks to seven goals from Charlie McKinnon. The 190cm spearhead leads the league with 22 in just five games, forming a nice partnership with over-ager Floyd Burmeister. The latter is a taller, more athletic type who connects up the ground.

Knights co-captains Sebastian Murphy and Tyson Gresham are their side’s main event. The former has been prolific through midfield, while the latter is building across half-forward and represented Vic Metro earlier this month. The pair also helped Parade College clinch a third-straight ACC flag.

Another ‘Raider’ in the group is bottom-ager Lewis Houndsome, who is part of the Vic Metro squad as a train-on. The tall forward will likely be joined in attack by fellow 2008-born talent Sam Gayfer, while Max Downes looks a decent type to roll through the midfield rotation.

PREDICTION:

A lot of this game will game down to how well Northern can quell the Rebels’ tall forwards. A bolstered lineup for the hosts spells trouble, though the Knights have been quite competitive barring a couple of outliers. Still, Rebels by 5.

ROUND 12 FIXTURE

Saturday June 21:

Gippsland Power vs. Eastern Ranges
1:00pm @ Morwell Recreation Reserve

GWV Rebels vs. Northern Knights
1:30pm @ Mars Stadium, Ballarat

Sunday June 22:

Tasmania Devils vs. Sandringham Dragons
10:30am @ Girdlestone Park, Devonport

Western Jets vs. Calder Cannons
10:30am @ DSV Stadium, Williamstown

Bendigo Pioneers vs. Geelong Falcons
12:00pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo

Murray Bushrangers vs. Dandenong Stingrays
12:00pm @ Deakin Reserve, Shepparton