RMFL preview: Coorong Cats are starting to look like the real deal

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It has been a hard-fought competition all year – not on the footy field, but up in the commentary booth.

Shane Snell will have to lift his game this week after tipping against both Coorong and Southern Mallee a week ago.

For what it’s worth, here are he and Matt Hood’s predictions as the River Murray Football League heads into round 16.

Coorong v Ramblers

The Cats will come into this match at Coonalpyn with plenty of energy after an upset win over Imperials last week.

On-baller Alex Stidiford, Patrick Barrett and fill-in ruckman Charlie Fisher were among the stand-out performers in what Snell called a “clinical” win.

Jack Holiday and six-goal Sam Sanders dominated up forward, too.

“They were … too strong, big, tall, out-skilled,” he said.

“The Cats are starting to look like the real deal.”

That said, the Roosters did have a “really strong” 50-point win against Mannum last week, with Max Marchetti and Nelson Miller among the on-field leaders.

“(Miller) is very elusive with the ball, he gets down low and he knows where the goals are,” Hood said.

• Matt’s tip: Coorong
• Shane’s tip: Coorong
• Watch the game: Visit www.facebook.com/rivermurrayfl from 2.15pm on Saturday.

Mallee v Southern Mallee

It might not be finals time yet, but a new piece of silverware will be handed out following this clash at Peake: the Mallee Cup.

Ladder-leading Southern Mallee will start as unbackable favourites against the cellar-dwelling Storm, but it’s sure to be a hard-fought game anyway.

The main difference between the two sides was depth, Hood said.

“(The Suns) have got too much class all over the field,” he said.

“They’ve got four or five big-name players, but they’ve got a few other guys starting to find some form, which is scary.

“Christian Vince is a big unit; Jayden Barrett, the fresh prince, he’s stepping up.”

Jarryd Brown and half-back flanker George Heintze were in that conversation, too, Snell said: “they bat deep”.

By contrast, the Storm could boast a few stars – Michael Leonard, Joe Pratt, Ryan Morris – but dropped off after that and had struggled to find consistency.

Southern Mallee won by 130 points the last time these clubs met, so the Storm can aim for a closer margin this time around.

• Matt’s tip: Southern Mallee
• Shane’s tip: Southern Mallee

Mypolonga v Mannum

The Tigers would have been disappointed with their fairly one-sided loss to Southern Mallee last week, and will have an opportunity to come good against the Roos at home this Saturday.

“Mypo will win,” Hood predicted.

“Mannum have been struggling all around – they just haven’t got enough winners at the moment, and they’ve had all the injuries in the world.”

Snell agreed that it was probably safe for Mannum to put the cue in the rack at this stage of a 3-10 season.

They couldn’t play Michael O’Malley against everyone.

Jack Kluske looms as the Roos’ biggest headache for this one; as Snell said, he had taken all before him since coming to Mypo from Glenelg.

• Matt’s tip: Mypolonga
• Shane’s tip: Mypolonga

Tailem Bend v Imperials

Imps didn’t have any answers for the Coorong Cats in a 30-point loss last week, despite Luke Harrowfield’s best efforts.

“They still haven’t got their game plan settled,” Snell suggested.

“They’ve got Johnny Boras at centre half forward, but I don’t know if he knows how to play it; Sean Samblich played up forward and kicked four goals; Aidan Morrell, he was a centre half forward project player but hasn’t been able to settle into a role.

“They’ve got a lot of small players.”

James Clarke and Louis DeMichele will both be question marks for Imps after missing last week.

Still, the Eagles are struggling with injuries.

Dylan Hogarth has stepped up in the midfield since Aidan Coakley went down, but they’ll be up against it again this week.

• Matt’s tip: Imperials
• Shane’s tip: Imperials