Match of the Day Preview: Round Fifteen
By Evan Tudor
MATCH OF THE DAY – SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST
Caroline Springs v Hoppers Crossing (TIV Division 1 Senior Men)
Caroline Springs Town Centre Recreation Reserve
Match start time: 2:10pm
🖥️Watch Live on Local Footy Hub. Stream commences 2:00pm | WATCH HERE
📻 Radio Broadcast on 88.9 Wynfm. Listen from 1:30pm – 5:30pm | LISTEN HERE
After last weekend’s divisional bye, TIV Division One football returns to the Senior Men’s footballing scene for Round 15, and the WFNL Match of the Day will head to Caroline Springs for the Lakers’ clash with Hoppers Crossing.
With both sides entering a critical time in the context of a top five finish, the fifth-place Lakers (9-5), and sixth place Warriors (9-5) will bring everything into Saturday’s contest.
Before the bye last weekend, Hoppers Crossing recorded a seven-point loss to Werribee Districts, with the defeat seeing an end to the Warriors’ five-game winning streak.
Caroline Springs returned to the winners’ list in style, with a one-point victory over Yarraville Seddon seeing the Lakers sing the song after four quiet weeks.
When the Lakers and Warriors last met, it was Caroline Springs who stormed away victorious in Round 5’s thumping 88-point win.
Averaging four majors per game, Lakers leading goalkicker Steven Kyriazis kicked five in the contest and hasn’t missed the big sticks all year.
Teammate Malik Elfakahani also hauled a bag of five and will look to return to the playing field after Round 14’s absence.
The duo is setting up to be an integral part of Caroline Springs’ attack on Saturday’s scoreboard.
But Hoppers Crossing will be out to take revenge and jump into fifth place.
The Warriors boast a dangerous trio who have an ability to catch leather poisoning week after week, with Ashlin Brown, Liam McMahon, and Bailey Young some key winners of the Sherrin.
Brown had a starring 43-touch outing two weekends back against Werribee Districts, while McMahon and Young found a respective 37 and 38 touches in their last showdown with the Lakers.
While Ryan Kitchen remains a goal machine for the Warriors, the star forward will be looking for a return to the scoresheet after being held to zero in Round 14’s appearance.
Will the Lakers get the job done over Hoppers Crossing again, or will the Warriors finally have what it takes to taste victory over Caroline Springs?