RMFL preview: Rivalries resume as finals begin for 2023
Matt Hood and Shane Snell preview Jervois and Imperials’ qualification final, and Coorong and Mypolonga’s elimination final, in the River Murray Football League.
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Two of the River Murray Football League’s new clubs will make their finals debut over the next fortnight as they aim to go all the way in 2023.
The Southern Mallee Suns will sit this week out after earning top spot on the ladder by just 0.06 per cent with their win over Mannum.
But Coorong will head straight into the fire with an elimination game against Mypo at Mypo on Sunday.
Here with the form guide and their tips are commentators Matt Hood and Shane Snell.
Jervois v Imperials
- Jervois Combined Sports Club, Saturday
- Head-to-head in 2023: Jervois 2-0
Undefeated Jervois will meet reigning premiers Imperials for the third time this year, and possibly not the last, at the Bluds’ home ground on Saturday.
Jervois should get a boost from playing on familiar turf, but then again, it didn’t help on grand final day last year … too soon?
Their biggest concern may be injuries to key players, with Ben Hansen still out with a hamstring and 50-goal man Josh Scott under a concussion cloud.
They did learn something last week, though: Mackenzie Hansen could do alright up forward.
“He kicked six last week, I think, so there’s a plan B for Jervois if they lose a key forward,” Snell said.
For Imps, gun Clint Diment should bolster the midfield.
Hood suggested the game might turn on whether James Clarke returned from a quad tear.
“A fortnight ago it was hard to read both sides,” Snell said.
“I’m not as threatened by Jervois as I was a month ago; the way they’ve played, it seems they’ve lost a bit of that edge.
“Maybe they were easing into finals to have a full-on assault … but where I was with Imps-Jervois a month ago, I’m not now.”
The winner of this match will play the Suns next week; the loser will play the winner of Sunday’s match.
The other matches on the card for Saturday will be Jervois v Mypo in the reserves, Imperials v Tailem Bend in the under-18s, Tailem Bend v Coorong in the under-15.5s and Imperials v Jervois in the under-13s.
- Matt’s tip: Jervois
- Shane’s tip: Imperials
- Watch the game: Visit www.facebook.com/rivermurrayfl from 2.15pm on Saturday.
Coorong v Mypolonga
- Mypolonga Memorial Oval, Sunday
- Head-to-head in 2023: 1-1
League-leading goal-kicker Sam Sanders will aim to snag a win for the Cats on Sunday at their opponents’ home ground.
The margin was five points when they met a fortnight ago, and both commentators guessed there would only be a straight kick in it again this time.
“All the guns for both sides are firing, (including) Jack Kluske, Patrick Davies, Riley Robinson and Mitch Bowley for Mypo, and they’ve got forwards kicking goals, Nick Hombsch and Stephen Mills,” Hood said.
“The Cats will have two outs: Sam Ploenges with a knee and Charlie Fisher with a knee.
“But Clint Walker will be in and Lachie Richardson will be in, he’s rested, those are a couple of good ins.”
Another in may be young Will Angas, a lanky utility who had his first game back from a knee reconstruction last week.
Snell said he would tip the Tigers thanks to Robinson and their defence, but “they’re going to be stretched” against Sanders and Brodie Martin.
Sunday’s winner will play either Imps or Jervois, while the loser will go home.
Also playing will be the Eagles and Suns in the reserves, Cats and Suns in under-18s, Tigers and Bluds in the under-15.5s and Roosters and Suns in the youngest grade.
- Matt’s tip: Coorong
- Shane’s tip: Mypolonga
- Watch the game: Visit www.facebook.com/rivermurrayfl from 2.15pm on Sunday.
