ROUND3PREVIEWS

SeafordvsEdithvale-Aspendale

This game is yet another huge fixture that could go either way. Edi-Asp started their season with a comprehensive win against local rivals Chelsea in Round 1 but Round 2 saw the Eagles return to earth with Devon Meadows handing the side their first defeat for the year. With match winners on either sideofthiscontestthisonemaygodownthewire.

AlexBrownewasstrongfortheEaglesintheruckyet again and midfielders Kurt Lo Po and Steve Mannix were influential despite the disappointing result. Seaford recorded their first victory of the year with Jack Lonie’s addition to the side helping the Tigers emerge victorious against Tyabb in an eye-catching displayfromtheformerAFLplayer.

Seaford’s youngsters, headlined by Chris Buttner, RyanJacobsandAngusGiddings-Constablehaveall impressedinthefirsttwoweeksoftheseason,asthe Tigers look to have one of the MPFNL’s strongest young cores and will be crucial to the Seaford’s success this weekend and throughout the 2023 season. Watch for Edi-Asp’s defence, marshalled by DanielHarrison,LoganHiscockandMitchWoolgarto beveryinfluentialintheresultofthisone.

PearcedalevsSomerville

After coming off a tough loss to Devon Meadows in Round 1, Pearcedale responded with a big win over Crib Point on their home deck and will be looking to repeatthateffortastheytakeonSomervilleinoneof thefiercestlocalderbiesintheMPFNL.Somervillewill also be looking to prove the doubters wrong as last years Preliminary Finalists have dropped to 0-2 after a tough start to the season. Somerville were without anumberofkeyplayerslastweekandwerenotable to stop Chelsea from scoring. Pearcedale on the other hand have no trouble hitting the scoreboard with the forward-line trio of Cruiz West, Luke Daniel andnewcomerMitchDaviscombiningfor11goalsfor theDalesintheirwinagainstCribPoint.

Add Ryan Bastinac to the mix, who kicked 4 goals of his own to go with 40 disposals and 10 clearances and you have a team that will be hard to beat. Somerville will have to rely on defenders Luke Rowe, NickMasonandMitchMantelltolimittheinfluenceof Pearcedale’s goal scorers. Luke Burton has been in good form throughout the first two weeks of the season and Lachie Sharp has emerged as a genuine goalthreat,astheyoungforwardlookstohavetaken hisgametoanotherlevelin2023.Thiswillbeaclose onewhichcouldgoeitherway.

DevonMeadowsvsMornington

Bothsidesareunbeatenheadingintothe3rdweekof the MPFNL season and have the chance to separate themselves from the pack with a win here. Mornington ran over Rye in tough conditions on Saturday to record their first win of the season, and DevonsnuckhomeagainstaverystrongEdi-Aspside astheylooktobeseriousintheirpursuitoftheirfirst seniorpremiershipinthisyear.

Dean Kent has been a welcome addition to the Panthersoutfitandhasstarredinbothofhisfirsttwo outings for Devon, and alongside midfielders Nick BattleandJoelHillismakeuponeofDiv2’sstrongest midfield brigades. Mornington also have a strong midfield brigade, with Captain-Coach Josh Newman alongside Adrian Speedy and Kalen Bird running riot againstRyelastweekend.

This game might come down to how well Devon can limit the influence of Jackson Calder who looks primed to have another big season for Mornington. The full forward has kicked multiple goals in both of the opening rounds and always manages to hit the scoreboard. Watch for Riley Simmons to assert his dominance in the ruck as the youngsters has been impressiveoverthefirsttwoweeksoftheseasonand looks to add a different dynamic to this Devon Meadowsside.