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Not too many shocks in R8 as we cruise into the Xmas break. Yes we have another change in 2nd spot as now Safety Bay take the revolving door of 2nd spot, which I'm sure will change again in R9. The 1 constant did not see change as Kardinya cruised to another Agg as they remain the only unbeaten side in Div 1. Now 23.5pts ahead & honestly we can't see anyone coming close to them unless they totally drop their bundle. Even if they do I think their home form gets the home after R11.
Rossmoyne were 2nd not so long ago & now are back into a fight for survival in 7th & after dropping that many at home, I'm genuinely concerned from here. The View are living the prediction after R6 which isn't good for them. They need an Agg in R9 to lift the spirits & prepare for a huge back 9. 4pts separate 3rd to 7th so that whole mid-section is a head scratcher for the moment & it probably won't change that much as they all keep taking points off each other with minor upsets every week.

Bassendean 59 (1) vs Kardinya 82 (7)
(Alan Southern 13 - Steven Novak 26)
(Eugene OSullivan 13 - Matthew Allen 14)
(Neil Strachan 14 - Daryl Radford 26)
(Stephen Jocelyn 19 - Brad Henley 16)
Basso had a real barometer test for where they sit this season as the Kats comprehensively won 3 of the 4 rinks with relative ease. Basso still stay in a Finals spot but only by 0.5pt.
The Kats were tremendous again as they seem to dominate most away surfaces so far & remain unbeaten. I feel another 1 away wins & winning all remaining home games has them home & hosed. For context they have won a jaw dropping 59.5pts from an available 64pts to date, incredible.
Result: Kardinya 7 - 1
Prediction: Kardinya 6 - 2

Doubleview 78 (2.5) vs Safety Bay 87 (5.5)
(Brandon Heta 20 - Chris Carruthers 20)
(Christopher McKenna 22 - Matthew Mortensen 21)
(David Cosgrove 22 - Graeme Smith 19)
(Max Young 14 - Grant Taylor 27)
Tough result for the home side as they only lost 1 rink but drop another Agg to remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder & in real trouble. Taylor over Young was the defining moment as it drove The Bay right up the ladder into 2nd spot. They are getting over these close games which is a great sign both home & away.
Result: Safety Bay 5.5 - 2.5
Prediction: Safety Bay 6 - 2

Rossmoyne 76 (1) vs Manning 85 (7)
(Craig Edson 18 - Michael Carey 20)
(Mark Barrett 21 - Paul Smith 23)
(Rawley Lang 16 - Wayne Heldt 24)
(Walter Harvey 21 - Sam Perica 18)
The River Rats are in trouble after dropping another home game. Yes it doesn’t look to tragic on the ladder but they’ll find it very difficult to recover as they have only won 2 from 8. They’ll need that 6th spot to stay close but they have a few tough weeks ahead.
Manning bounce right back as the fly right back into 3rd spot after dropping down the ladder with a few disappointing results. If Rossmoyne won they would be 2nd & Manning 7th, that’s how close this mid table is. The Eagles have won 5 against Rossmoyne 2 but yet they are still only 4pts ahead. Big result for Manning.
Result: Gosnells 7 - 1
Prediction: Gosnells 6 - 2

Gosnells 80 (7) vs Mosman Park 69 (1)
(David Newton 25 - Mark Robertson 13)
(Frank Carbone 19 - Steven Swanson 15)
(Glenn Lynch 15 - Mitchell Cranswick 25)
(Luke Garbutt 21 - Cameron Hoffman 16)
The Kookaburra’s maintained that home form, albeit, through another razor tight finish but every Agg is huge for them at the stage. Newtons side was the difference & getting a big 7pts gives them confidence heading into the back 9.
Mossies knew this one was a double pointer as both struggle for form. Sitting 9th with 3 from 8 isn’t horrific but it’s bordering on serious concerns if they can’t get an Agg in R9. Mossies seem a long way from where they were last season but you’d expect they’ll start to click soon.
Result: Gosnells 7 - 1
Prediction: Gosnells 6 - 2

Leeming 70 (2) vs Cockburn 76 (6)
(Gary Ford 16 - Tony Krajancic 20)
(Graeme Fewings 21 - William Tepania 16)
(James Newton 15 - Marc Abonnel 24)
(Karl Vandersluys 18 - Michael Simunovic 16)
We thought this was going to the last end & wasn’t it an absolute nail biter & too everyone’s surprise the Titans win a close one. Huge result for Cockburn as they jump into safety but not by much.
Consequentially the Lions head the opposite way now & only escape heading into the dreaded playoff spots by score percentage. These mid table games might have large consequences come R18 as it seems playoffs & Finals spots will go right down to the last day. Leeming do have an identical challenge again in R9 which they know will be another double pointer against a lower side.
Result: Cockburn 6 - 2
Prediction: Leeming 6 - 2

LADDER
TeamPlayedWinsLossDrawSFSA%PointsHomePtsAwayPtsHomeWAwayW
Kardinya8801774510151.7659.53128.544
Safety Bay844162565595.4235.524.51131
Manning853162763399.0533132023
Bassendean8441596588101.3632.52210.531
Cockburn8441638583109.4332141822
Leeming8351614585104.962913.515.512
Rossmoyne8351628615102.112915.513.512
Gosnells844157566886.0826.5206.531
Mosman Park835158767387.2223.519.5430
Doubleview826156371778.5219.517.5220
SKIPPERS
NameWinsLossesDrawsShots+Home winsAway winsClub
Matthew Allen8006544Kardinya
Brad Henley7109043Kardinya
Daryl Radford7107743Kardinya
Chris Carruthers6111533Safety Bay
Stephen Jocelyn6104442Bassendean
Karl Vandersluys620942Leeming
Steven Novak5213232Kardinya
Gary Ford5304432Leeming
Eugene OSullivan5301723Bassendean
Rawley Lang530-332Rossmoyne
Mark Barrett530-932Rossmoyne
Walter Harvey4222131Rossmoyne
William Tepania4314222Cockburn
Marc Abonnel4312004Cockburn
Wayne Heldt431522Manning
Brandon Heta431-922Doubleview
Tony Krajancic4003722Cockburn
Cameron Hoffman4401231Mosman Park
Paul Smith440813Manning
Craig Edson440422Rossmoyne
Graeme Fewings440-322Leeming
Grant Taylor430-322Safety Bay
Graeme Smith341-121Safety Bay
Alan Southern341-1230Bassendean
Frank Carbone3001021Gosnells
David Cosgrove350-730Doubleview
Mitchell Cranswick350-1712Mosman Park
Christopher McKenna350-6230Doubleview
Luke Garbutt2111820Gosnells
Neil Strachan220211Bassendean
Michael Simunovic230111Cockburn
Sam Perica260-911Manning
Zac Boddy230-3220Safety Bay
Mark Robertson250-4411Mosman Park
James Newton152-2101Leeming
Matthew Mortensen111910Safety Bay
Michael Carey121-801Manning
Steven Swanson151-1910Mosman Park
Glenn Lynch161-3310Gosnells
David Newton1001210Gosnells
Mark Robinson100610Mosman Park
Eoghan Gahan120510Gosnells
Larry Herbert120-110Manning
Edward Johnson120-810Doubleview
Josip Marevic130-1701Cockburn
Luke Garbett130-3001Gosnells
Rob Foy061-4600Gosnells
Allan Taylor010-100Manning
Travis Lynch010-600Bassendean
Jim Ricci020-1100Cockburn
Max Young010-1300Doubleview
Denis Bandy010-1700Cockburn
Ron Hall010-1800Safety Bay
Damian Adams010-2400Mosman Park
Daniel Newton020-2900Gosnells
Butch Dinnison040-3700Bassendean
James Barry040-5500Doubleview