ARANA (5th) v SOUTHS (8th): Sunday July 18 2.15pm at Dawson Pde
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Arana: Steady at 7/1 ($8.00); Souths: 100/1 ($101.00) out from 50/1 ($51.00)
2004 Games Round 1: Arana 44 def Souths 10; Round 8: Arana 22 def Souths 18
Head to Head 2001/4: Arana 10 Souths 1
Last 3 Games: Arana: Springwood L 14-44; Easts W 28-12; Norths L 22-34
Souths: Norths L 16-36; Redcliffe L 20-30; Easts L 18-20
Souths nearly caused an upset the last time these two teams met with Arana scoring twice in the last 5 minutes to snatch victory. Arana however have really had the wood on Souths at Dawson Pde notching up a number of big victories and they will want to have put this game away well before fulltime if they are to be considered a premiership threat. Souths will not be pushovers however as they have won at least a half in their last three outings, despite still not having won a game this season.
"The Computer" tips Arana by 12.
SPRINGWOOD (1st) v NORTHS (2nd): Sunday July 18 12.00noon at Tallowood
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Springwood: Steady at 5/2 ($3.50); Norths: Steady at 5/2 ($3.50)
2004 Games: Round 1: Norths 40 def Springwood 16; Round 8: Norths 23 def Springwood 22
Head to Head 2001/4: Redlands/Springwood 2 Norths 2
Last 3 Games: Springwood: Centenary W 26-10; Arana W 44-14; Logan Bros L 10-24
Norths: Souths W 36-16; Centenary L 16-20; Arana W 34-22
Top of the table clash with Springwood looking to gain revenge for the hammering dished out to them by Norths in the opening round of the year at this venue. The Round 8 clash on Trial day at Brandon was an absolute ripper with a field goal nudging Norths home. Springwood overcame a determined Centenary side on Wednesday night, whilst Norths also had a win over Souths. Some of Springwood's key players have had a lot of football in last couple of weeks so this may be a factor, whilst Norths are still impacted by injury worries.
"The Computer" tips Springwood by 6.
REDCLIFFE (3rd) v LOGAN BROS (4th): Sunday July 18 12.15pm at Dolphin Oval
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: LRedcliffe: Steady at 4/1 ($5.00); Logan Bros: Steady at 3/1 ($4.00)
2004 Games: Round 1: Redcliffe 24 def Logan Bros 20; Round 8: Logan Bros 36 def Redcliffe 0
Head to Head 2001/4: Redcliffe 6 Logan Bros 5
Last 3 Games: Redcliffe: Easts W 28-12; Souths W 30-20; Norths L 10-24 (CT)
Logan Bros: Springwood W 24-10; Centenary W 42-6; Souths W 36-20
Incredibly Logan Bros have played only 1 game since May 30 with games against Easts and Norths being postponed in that time. Their only game was an impressive win over competition heavyweights Springwood so they had found some form, but it will be interesting to see how their combination is affected by such a layoff. Redcliffe did not play midweek so will be fresh, and they will want to erase the memory of their hammering in Round 8 where they turned on arguably their worst performance of the season to go down 36-0 on Trial day to Logan. They did sneak home in the first game of the season at the same ground, and this advantage may prove the difference in what is a critical game for both teams with Arana breathing down their neck.
"The Computer" tips Logan Bros by 4
EASTS (7th) v CENTENARY (6th): Sunday July 18 2.30pm at Scott Park
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Easts: Steady at 20/1 ($21.00); Centenary: Steady at 15/2 ($8.50)
2004 Games: Round 1: Centenary 10 def Easts 4; Round 8: Centenary 16 drew Easts 16
Head to Head 2001/4: Centenary 5 Easts 1 Drawn 1
Last 3 Games: Easts: Redcliffe L 12-28; Arana L 12-28; Souths W 20-18
Centenary: Springwood L 10-26; Norths W 20-16; Logan Bros L 6-42
Both games between these 2 teams this year have been tight encounters with Centenary scoring in the last minute to snatch a draw on trial day last time they met. Centenary have played the top two teams in their last 2 games, beating Norths, and putting in a great first 25 minutes against Springwood on Wednesday night before letting them off the hook with a few crucial errors. They will have to win this one however to keep their finals hopes alive, whilst Easts, all but mathematically out of the running, will make life difficult for all teams in the run to the finals.
"The Computer" tips Centenary by 8.
