Border Mail Round 11 – Preview
Culcairn has lured former junior Sam Schulz back to the club.
In a major boost to the second-placed Lions’ premiership credentials, they will lodge a clearance for Schulz before the June 30 deadline.
And in a further bonus, clever goalsneak Jamie Robbins has committed for the rest of the season after initially retiring at the start of the year.
Lions president Brendan Sheather said the classy Robbins would play seniors against Lockhart on Saturday.
“Jamie has been training for six weeks and is right to go on the weekend,” Sheather said.
“Sam has trained with us on numerous occasions and we will lodge a clearance for him this week.
“Sam was reluctant to play football this season because of his university commitments where he has to be in Melbourne on Mondays and Fridays.
“But he has a seven-week break from university now, so the stars have aligned for us so to speak.
“We are mindful that he is coming off a shoulder reconstruction and won’t pressure him to play if his body is not right.”
Schulz’s last match locally was in Albury’s grand final loss to Wangaratta at Lavington Sportsground two years ago where he was among the Tigers’ best.
He played a handful of matches for VAFA club University Blues last season.
Robbins is set to add another dimension to the Lions’ attack which relies heavily on star recruit Adam Prior to kick a winning score.
Prior has booted 39 goals with key forward Dennis Pedemont the next highest with 14.
Robbins is a noted goalkicker and won the Hume league’s goalkicking in 2017.
He was also Prahran’s leading goalkicker the previous three seasons before landing at the den.
Robbins said he was looking forward to playing his role in the countdown to finals with the Lions looking a genuine premiership threat.
“I sort of retired at the end of last year because I have got a young family,” Robbins said.
“But after watching Culcairn play a few games it fueled my passion to play and I still feel that I have something to offer.
“I’ve been training and my body is feeling good.
“So I’ll hopefully be able to provide a different option in attack and help take a bit of pressure off ‘Adsey’ (Prior).”
Culcairn is sitting second on the ladder and, along with reigning premier Brock-Burrum, is in the box seat to secure the double chance.
The Demons shape as formidable opposition with Jordan Harrington’s midfield clash with Jye Shields set to be pivotal.
CDHBU coach Mick Collins believes positives have emerged from the club’s horror injury run this season.
“They were all fantastic,” Collins said.
“We’ve had Brad Talbot and Josh Lewis and others out and it’s opened up opportunities for some younger blokes to come in.
“William and Jekesoni are from Fiji and they came in and did some incredible things along with Jayden who has a strong rowing background.
“It was great to see.”
Dyer and Koroi were put in touch with CDHBU through Power netball coach Daryl Howard’s connections.
“They had three or four shots on goal,” Collins said.
“It’s been a tough season but the three young blokes have been a real positive.
“We’re keen to give them every opportunity for the rest of the season.”
HENTY has landed a huge coup ahead of Sunday’s clearance deadline by luring classy midfielder Jarrad Farwell back to the club from Rutherglen.
Farwell has spent the past four seasons in the Tallangatta and District league, winning the 2016 Barton medal with Thurgoona’s Jayden Kotzur.
He looks set to form a lethal midfield with Swampie stars Daniel Cox and Jared Brennan as the club chases its first flag since 2014.
Coach Joel Price said Farwell would add another dimension to the in-form line-up.
“I’m not sure if the paperwork has been done yet and hopefully that will all go through in the next few hours, but we’re really excited about Jarrad,” Price said.
“From a club point of view he was on top of the list for recruiting next year and discussions had informally started.
“It’s just worked out that it has been fast-tracked.
“We’re really happy to get another local back to the club for this season and the next couple of years.”
It is understood Rutherglen will release Farwell from his contract after Henty did the same for the Cats four years ago.
Price said Farwell would play through the midfield and up forward as the fifth-placed Swampies attempted to catch competition pacesetters Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock and Culcairn.
FIXTURE
ROUND 11
Lockhart v Culcairn
Billabong Crows v Osborne
Murray Magpies v Brock-Burrum
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla v Jindera
TIPS
LUKE BRAUER
(Former Brock-Burrum coach)
Holbrook
Henty
Culcairn
Osborne
Brock-Burrum
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla
TOTAL: 48
BRETT KOHLHAGEN
(The Border Mail)
Holbrook
Henty
Culcairn
Osborne
Brock-Burrum
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla
TOTAL: 48
CAMERON JONES
(Holbrook life member)
Holbrook
Henty
Culcairn
Osborne
Brock-Burrum
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla
TOTAL: 42
ANTHONY ARMSTRONG
(Osborne stalwart)
CDHBU
Henty
Culcairn
Osborne
Brock-Burrum
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla
TOTAL: 41
SNIPPETS
INDIGENOUS ROUND
Henty’s Indigenous round was a raging success last weekend.
On top of the Swampies defeating Rand-Walbundrie-Walla, the club raised $10,000 for mental health initiatives by selling the jumpers.
“It was a fantastic day for the club and community,” coach Joel Price said.
TIGHT FOR SPOTS
Brock-Burrum’s depth can’t be questioned.
The Saints’ reserves have moved three games clear on top of the ladder with players of the ilk of Shannon Boers and Zac Stuart running around in recent weeks.
The side will only get stronger when Kade Stevens and Tyson Neander return to senior ranks in coming weeks.
SPIDER OUT
Howlong defender Matt Lee will miss Saturday’s important clash against Henty.
Lee accepted a one-week set penalty for rough conduct from last weekend’s clash against Holbrook.
The ninth-placed Spiders are one of six teams fighting for two positions in the top-six.
