Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Second-placed South Hobart have the chance to prove whether they are championship material when they take on Premier League leaders Tilford Zebras at KGV Park on Friday night.

With four points separating the sides, a win for South Hobart will put them in the box seat for the title.

A defeat for South will mean a giant step towards the championship for the Zebras because their lead will be extended to 7 points.

All the signs point to a Zebras victory.

Zebras are the only unbeaten team in the competition and, although South have won their past four games, they remain unconvincing because of the manner of those victories.

On paper, South appear genuine title challengers, having collected 19 points from a possible 21 from their past seven games, but their performances leave a lot to be desired.

South Hobart coach, Steve Adkins, has experimented with a number of strikers, including Alex Gordon, David Cooper and Daniel Brown, but the side has never managed to win by more than two goals.

Against the fast and physical defence of Zebras, South will be hard-pressed to score, while at the other end, the quick, versatile and hard-shooting Zebras attack should find a way past South’s defenders.

Zebras will be strengthened by the return of striker Romeo Frediani, who was rested last weekend against Metro-Claremont because of a few twinges in the groin and hamstrings.

Frediani is looking leaner and fitter than he has for many a moon and his inclusion spells danger to South.

Hobart Olympic, in third place, will be without suspended defender Paul Kaproulias when they entertain second-last Metro-Claremont at the Athletic Centre on Saturday.

Paul Kaproulias - suspended for Olympic

Kaproulias incurred a three-week suspension after being sent off in the first half of Olympic’s 3-0 win over Taroona last Sunday.

Defenders Peter Tsakiris, Chris Tsimiklis and Youssef Mohamad, as well as striker-cum-midfielder Ben Backhaus, will again be missing for Olympic, but Michael Bulis, the league’s leading scorer, and left-footed speedster Danijel Djekanovic are likely to return after injury.

The exciting Kosta Grillas is Olympic’s trump card and he is capable of winning this game single-handedly.

Kosta Grillas - ace goalscorer for Olympic

Metro coach Matthew Gasparin will make positional changes, with youngster Adam McKeown likely to be in the attack and tall striker Royston Dutton reverting to his more customary role as a centre-back.

Young defender Adrian Lawler may also be used in an attacking role, while the robust pair of Jarrod Saunders or Darrin Chaffey could slot in at right-back.

Phil Curran, who has an ankle injury, and Shane Kent, who has a troublesome hamstring, must undergo fitness tests before being considered for selection, while Aaron Marney may get a start after scoring against Zebras last Sunday.

“After the disappointment of losing to Zebras last weekend, the focus for the game against Olympic is concentrating for a full 90-minute period,” said Metro-Claremont coach, Matthew Gasparin.

“Training on Thursday night focused on ball movement and the ability to create a contest for a full 90 minutes.

“Discussion this week revolved around commitment, with selection being primarily based around attendance and efforts at training versus reputation.

“As a club, we have decided that the second half of the year revolves around improving on the efforts of the first round of games with the focus being on developing the young players within the club for season 2008.”

Sixth-placed University will field virtually a reserve side against bottom-side New Town Eagles at Clare Street on Sunday as the academic holidays, injuries and suspensions take their toll.

Goalkeeper Ashley Winter, player-coach Matthew Shaw, defender Thomas Andersen, striker Aaron Hindmarsh and midfielders Tyler Duniam and Gerard O’Brien are all away, while goalkeeper Ryo Matsuo is injured.

Andersen, an exchange student, has returned to Denmark.

Mark Rapley has work commitments, Alexis Bull, Luke Temby and Hugh Richardson are carrying injuries, while Brook Teale is suspended.

Coming back are Colin Shepherd, Taka Manaka, Rod Gretton, Michael Andrews, John Wilson and Chris Quinn, who will join the survivors of last week’s game, Craig Stockdale, Julian Proud, John Andrews and John Merry.

Stockdale will only play the first half, however, as he starts his work shift at about 4pm.

“This weekend represents an opportunity for those who have been out of the side to show that they should be in it,” said University coach. Matthew Shaw.

“They have all played in the first team and all are capable players.

“As a team, we have been putting a lot of energy and effort into each game, but we need to put 90 minutes in where we show our quality on the ball.

“Too often our passing gets ragged and we make life hard for ourselves because every misplaced pass requires the effort of getting the ball back again.”

If Eagles are ever going to turn the corner and win a game this season, this has to be the one.

Nathan Pitchford - potential match winner for New Town Eagles against University

They face a depleted University outfit and must surely be able to take advantage.

Fourth-placed Clarence United travel to Kelvedon Park on Sunday to take on eighth-ranked Taroona without Luke Cripps, who has moved to France to work, but Adam Mahoney and Julian McMahon may return from injury and Ben Parker is back after suspension.

Taroona will miss star goalkeeper Michael McKenna, who is out for the rest of the season with a back injury. His replacement is Rob Hortle, while Jack Elliot returns from injury.

Michael McKenna - back injury has ended his season

“I am looking forward to my first trip down to John Ross’s hallowed turf for many years,” said Clarence coach, Andrew Brown.

“I have very distinct memories of not being allowed to warm up in the goal area for fear of the backlash from the diminutive Mr Ross, and I am a little sad that he is no longer with us as he was such a character.

“Taroona have adjusted far better to life in the Premier League than their predecessors, Hobart United, and were desperately unlucky not to take points from their visit to Wentworth Park in round one.

“We hope to have learnt from that experience and shall not be underestimating our visit to Kelvedon Park.

“Sadly, we have lost Luke Cripps as he has taken a position in France and left on Monday.

Luke Cripps - moved to France

“Luke was a great servant to the club and shall leave a big hole, both on and off the field.

“With the impending retirement of Scott Hadley at season’s end, it means that although the club is blessed with an abundance of talented youth, we have very few mature players able to guide these young players.

Clarence veteran Scott Hadley  - final season

“The club will seriously look at recruiting several mature and seasoned Premier League players in 2008 in a hope to complement the youngsters currently at the club.”

Kingborough Lions United will be without striker Chris Sanita, who has signed for Brunswick in Melbourne, for Sunday’s home game against Glenorchy Knights, while midfielder Gordon Kerr is doubtful because of an ankle injury suffered at training.

Warren Iles - possible recall in the absence of Chris Sanita