Round 11 of the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League will see a full round of four matches that on ladder position look a bit one-way traffic but as we have seen all year there may be a surprise in the package.
One of the most intriguing contests will see the out-of-form Wangaratta Rovers back at home to take on bottom-placed Wodonga Raiders who pushed them in the first round.
Rovers have lost both Nathan Cooper and Ryan Hebron back to VFL duties and bring in Connor Shanley and “Mirrors” Lenaz for a must-win game at the WJ Findlay Oval.
Raiders led for most of the round two match and will go into the game with great belief against the Rovers who are clinging onto the fifth spot.
Raiders buoyed by the news dynamic on-baller Cam Ellis-Yolmen has signed on for 2024 will fancy their chances in what should be the tightest contest of the round.
North Albury has compensated for the loss of suspended coach Tim Broomhead by naming VFL-listed Hoppers Sam Azzi and Jackson Weideman for the away clash with Yarrawonga.
The Hoppers have won four of its last five games and will get the ultimate barometer test on its credentials with the Pigeons top of the table.
Yarrawonga has signed two-time VFL premiership player Dylan Conway who played alongside current Pigeons Michael Gibbons, Leigh Masters and Willie Wheeler at Williamstown.
Wodonga will be looking to repeat its heroics from round two when they host the inform Wangaratta – the Doggies on that occasion prevailed by 24 points.
Things have changed significantly since with Wangaratta on a six-game winning streak and Wodonga after winning its first five has lost the last four.
Wangaratta has made just one change from the side that hammered Rovers in the derby last Sunday with Darcy Melksham coming in for Brad Melville who has VFL with Richmond.
Wodonga has made a change at the selection table with Mitch Dineen, Nick Hynes and Noah Spiteri all being recalled in the hope to increase scoring capacity.
Albury has named 2018 premiership player Matt Walker for his first game this season for the trip to the McNamara Reserve, Myrtleford. Rory Parnell has also been named.
The Tigers are locked in an intriguing three-way tussle for the top position and trail Yarrawonga by just a few percentage points for the minor premiership.
The Saints wasted opportunities early in the game last week at Lavington but will get Simon Curtis and Levi Young back into the side.
They do lose some quality in midfield with Elijah Wales’s hamstring injury and star midfielder Sam Martyn is heading overseas to Spain and will miss the remainder of the season.
In other news, the Ovens and Murray Hall of Fame committee have announced the two latest inductees ahead of its big night on July 29.
Wangaratta Rovers three-time premiership player Anthony Pasquali and Benalla’s Richie Castles will be joining Albury’s Matt Fowler and Hoppers Dan Leslie as the new inductees.
In Ovens and Murray netball, the four games see the top five sides playing the teams outside the five with the best game potentially at Myrtleford.
Myrtleford in fourth place has a great opportunity to put some space on sixth-placed Albury and should be able to achieve this and secure a finals position.
Wodonga Raiders will maintain its position in the top three with a win over the improving Wangaratta Rovers.
Yarrawonga will be a huge task for the young North Albury side with the Pigeons going from strength to strength and will make it ten in a row.
Wangaratta who looks to be finding its best side will need to be wary of the much-improved Wodonga but will have enough class to win and stay in second position.
