Adelaide Footy League: Focus on Furniture Division 2 Round 6 preview
IT HAS taken a few rounds for Unley Mercedes Jets to hit its straps but over the past three weeks its has reclaimed the form behind its rise to the top-flight division last year.
IT HAS taken a few rounds for Unley Mercedes Jets to hit its straps but over the past three weeks its has reclaimed the form behind its rise to the top-flight division last year.
The Jets have rocketed up the Focus on Furniture division two ladder after a slow start to the season, sitting just one win outside the top five.
Although each of their wins so far has been against lower opposition, they can highlight their
improvement this week by defeating a genuine finals contender in Athelstone at Kingswood Oval.
Last week’s 86-point victory over Scotch OC was the Jets most impressive performance to date but Patrick Taggart, Oliver Moss (eight goals), Nathan Chettle and Nick Stuart must now prove they can beat higher opposition.
The Raggies, though, will be looking to maintain pressure on the top three after Angus Owen, Heath Fitzpatrick, Christian Elliott and Josh Sykes controlled the run of play in their solid 19 point triumph over Old Ignatians.
Scotch OC should react to last week’s loss with too much class against winless Broadview on Saturday while Old Iggies have a crucial appointment with a testing Pembroke OS at Hunter Park.
Success here could determine either side’s finals prospects while also elevate the victor away from the relegation area.
The Kings illustrated that they can be competitive against the top sides after experiencing a
heartbreaking 10-point loss to third-placed Sacred Heart OC.
The margin rarely fluctuated over a goal all day but SHOC persisted stronger at the finish, rewarding it with the positive result to retain its position in the top three.
Sacred Heart OC faces a season-defining fixture against Gaza, which is level on points on the ladder.
Following tight defeats the previous two weeks, Ned Brooks, Jacob Laba, Taylor Angel and Connor Hartshorne was able to find a way to ensure the outcome went in their favour last week and they can expect another stern contest on Saturday.
Any other weekend, this match-up would be the clash-of- the-round but one game eclipses it this week with a top-of- the-table meeting pending as well.
Ladder leader Henley hosts second-placed PHOS Camden in what should be an exhilarating encounter.
The Sharks held onto their unbeaten record and two-game buffer on the four challengers behind them after emphatically accounting for one of those contenders in Gaza by 53 points last week.
The Phantoms had an even easier 90-point victory over bottom side Broadview.
However, Sam Inglis, Casey Beard, Harry Cumming and Rfrom Pichard O’Grady HOS Camden must come ready for a more physical intense clash against Henley’s Josh Thewlis, Travis Lane, Michael Gautesen and Tom Elfenbein.
The consequences will certainly give us a greater insight to the season going forward and reveal if the
premiership favourite is actually that far ahead of the rest.