It might be the battle of bottom 2 teams but this is a massive game at Frankston this Sunday.
It's the first of two meetings between these 2 teams as they met again in the last round at Visy Park.
Frankston has the pressure of this game being at home and after playing good football over the last month they had a bad game at Collingwood yesterday. Is it the case that Dolphins have forgotten how to win?
The Blues will go into this game as favorites despite their poor form of late.
This is a game not to be missed.
I might have something on the dolphins. Maybe even to win by over 39 points ?
Frankston have copped some hidings by the former Northern Bullants team in recent years. They will exact revenge and smash Carlton seconds this week.
Long range forecast is for fine weather which should see a decent roll up. It's school holidays so even the time challenged Robert Hyde might make an appearance!
The Blues are claiming they dominated the clearances against Box Hill. The Blues stats team had them winning the clearances by 20 which probably indicates they aren't as accurate as they were in the days when they had Bronwyn Bell inputting the data.
Nonetheless the Dolphins will have to be up for this one and the good people of the Northern Suburbs wish them all the best for the weekend.
Frankston's form has been solid for several weeks with only a draw against Williamstown to show for besides their normal win over Coburg.
If they can get a good start there is no reason why the dolphins can't win this one, especially at home. Kyle Martin continues to impress and looks like yet another dolphin that could be drafted as well as previously mentioned Khan Haretuku.
Frankston vs. Northern Blues
Sunday 8th July
Frankston Oval at 2:00 PM
Frankston
B Boland Irving Osborne
HB Sketcher Van Unen W. Miller
C Delahunty Martin Buchan
HF S. Marusic Haretuku Potts
F Hockey L. Clark Jennings
R Forato Bosward Kitchin
Int(from) Corp J. Miller M. Viney* Sienkiewicz Wells Heddles Matheson Davenport Thoolen
Northern Blues
B Bootsma McCarthy Carter
HB Bower Thornton Lucas
C Russell O'Keeffe Gianfagna
HF Dale White Bransgrove
F Mitchell Casboult Heyne
R Warnock Ellard Marcon
Int(from) Meese T. Wilson Kerr Bell Benbow* Buckley Thomas Davies Lambert
Carlton will have around 18-19 players representing them in this match, with the season wage bill for this group coming to a conservative $2 million.
What they are worth does not mean much. Either does being on an afl list if you can't play. One team will play like a real team and one will play like individuals.
Speaking of Carlton, I reckon they are probably a big chance to knock off Collingwood tomorrow night, especially with all the knocks in the paper during the week.
On Sunday the dolphins should be able to record their second win for the season. The dolphins have some handy and improving players in Boland, Delahunty, Buchan, Potts, Hockey, Kitchin to add to Haretuku, Martin. If they can be consistent for four quarters they will give themselves every chance to record a good victory.
Northern Blues 18-9(117) def Frankston 10-9(69).
Shattering day for the Dolphins, likely to finish both competitions with the Wooden Spoon as much as I hate to say it.
I can see the Dolphins winning another game this season.
VFL
Frankston 3.3 6.5 9.8 10.9 (69)
Northern Blues 5.0 7.2 13.5 18.9 (117)
GOALS:
Frankston: Marusic 3 Haretuku 2 Potts 2 Clark 2 Viney
Northern Blues: Thornton 5 Bell 3 Heyne 2 Benbow Bransgrove Russell Ellard Davies Dale O'Keeffe Mitchell
BEST:
Frankston: Hockey Potts Van Unen Sketcher Marusic Thoolen
Northern Blues: Ellard Bell Thornton Russell Lucas White
Development League
Frankston 6.4 6.6 9.12 14.14 (98)
Northern Blues 2.0 9.4 15.7 19.10 (124)
GOALS:
Frankston: Appleford 3 Capiron 2 Pearce 2 Johnston 2 Fox Ndongo Simpson Jaroszczuk Clements
Northern Blues: Dorman 6 Wilson 3 Thomas 2 Toman 2 Soncin Lincoln Celebicanin Lambert Currie
BEST:
Frankston: Gardiner Appleford O'Sullivan Simpson Clements
Northern Blues: Lincoln Dirago Wilson Lambert Thomas Dorman
Bad day for the dolphins. David Ellard 3 votes, 2 votes and 1 vote. Best on ground by a millions miles.