The Boomerangs Men’s team this weekend trek once again to Derrimut in Melbourne for Series 3 of the 2013 F-League Season.
This weekend will present the Boomerangs with their most challenging set of matches in the 2013 season.
Saturday afternoon 3pm sees them up against current reigning F-League champion side, Dural Warriors. An early 8am kick off on Sunday sees them matched up against the form Victorian team, Vic Vipers. This is followed up with their final weekend match against current league leaders, Sydney Scorpions at 2pm Sunday afternoon.
All three teams sit above the Boomerangs on the competition table with all teams having lost only once each this season so far.
A daunting task no doubt for the young 2013 Boomerangs squad – however a task which is not beyond them. The aim will obviously be to bring home some competition points, and all three games provide an opportunity to do just that.
The first game up against Dural Warriors will be an opportunity for the Boomerangs to improve on their first meeting in the competition’s first round back on June 1 where the Warriors took the match with a 4-1 victory. The Boomerangs coaching staff have developed a plan to nullify the strengths and scoring opportunities of the Warriors, and if they can themselves net a few goals, a win is not inconceivable. Aside from coming up against the Boomerangs on Saturday afternoon, the Warriors are also matched up against the Scorpions in the ‘game of the series’ on Saturday evening, and have a relatively easier game scheduled for Sunday against St Albans.
The Vic Vipers match early Sunday morning, represents the Boomerangs best opportunities for a win this weekend. Having disposed of the Vipers in Series 1, with a very much undermanned team, should give a full strength Boomerangs squad more confidence and certainly options on the floor. However, the Vipers will be looking for revenge and will certainly improve on their ordinary display in Series 1. And as they displayed in the Sydney round, another top notch defensive effort is required from the Boomers for this game. The Vipers also play other Melbourne based teams over the weekend including Jaguars on Saturday morning and the Heart on Sunday evening.
The final match of Series 3 on Sunday for the Boomerangs is against the Sydney Scorpions. The Scorpions currently sit atop the 2013 F-League ladder and are no doubt the form team, having dropped only three points this season whilst amassing a significant 33 goal goal difference. In Series 2, the Boomerangs 4-2 loss to the Scorpions flattered the ACT team somewhat, as the Scorpions came out firing and scored an early goal, and one soon after, meaning that the Boomerangs were playing catch up for the remainder of the game. Only a late goal by Cal Smith put some respectability into the scoreline. However, the Scorpions are beatable, and a review of game videos by the coaching staff has helped to isolate some of their weaknesses and areas in which the Boomerangs can improve. There is no doubt this will be an intense and closely fought game.
Boomerangs coaching staff are well aware of the importance of coming home with some competition points this weekend. Memories are still fresh in the mind of the two Melbourne Series’ in 2012 which were the undoing of the Boomerangs title aspirations. A good effort over this weekend will see the Boomerangs remain in the top four and with an easier draw for the final four games in Series 4 and 5, a real shot at a top of the table finish.