Shellharbour’s home clash with Northern Districts has been switched to Kully Bay Oval with Saturday’s three Division 1 games in round nine of AFL South Coast set to proceed.
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Heavy rain forced the Shellharbour versus Norths clash to be moved from Jock Brown Oval to Port Kembla’s Kully Bay but the other two Division 1 venues are playable including North Dalton Park with four AFL games in three competitions scheduled for today.
Nowra Blues and Norths are coming off disappointing performances and will want to make amends at the halfway point of the season.
Nowra went into last Saturday’s clash against unbeaten leaders Wollongong Lions in second spot but managed just one scoring shot in a 22 goal defeat.
The Lions were rampant but the Blues will want to improve at their West Street Oval home against the other top side this season, Wollongong Bulldogs, who will have several players missing due to university exams.
After this weekend the Bulldogs face a tough month with most of their top squad unavailable due to the semester break at Wollongong Uni.
Bulldogs coach Lee Murray is realistic about the month ahead, with the club hoping to hold their own before getting their top side back for the closing weeks of the regular season.
‘‘We’re used to being short-handed for a few weeks and will do our best with the players we have available,’’ Murray said.
Meanwhile, Northern Districts haven’t played for three weeks following the double bye, but are still stung by a poor performance against Kiama in round seven.
The Tigers made the grand final last season but have some work to do to challenge the Bulldogs and Lions this campaign.
In the other round nine match, the Lions host Bomaderry at North Dalton Park. (2.10pm)
Meanwhile, a confident Sydney Thunder under 19s are hoping North Dalton Park is playable for Saturday morning’s home game against Manly Warringah in Sydney AFL Division One.
The Thunder (2-6) take on a Manly side who have won three games and are coming off a 79-point loss to the top side Pennant Hills.
First bounce is 10am in the first of four games scheduled at North Dalton Park on Saturday.
The Wollongong Saints womens AFL side are also playing at NDP (4.10pm) and host Western Wolves.
Wollongong have a 1-4 win/loss record, while Windsor (3-2) are one spot above them in fourth in Sydney Womens AFL Division One.
Seventeen-year-old Kate Stanton booted both Saints goals in last weekend’s loss to Newtown, while Aleisha Chessell was also outstanding for Wollongong.
South Coast AFL ladder: Wollongong Lions 12; Wollongong Bulldogs 8, Northern Districts 8, Nowra 8; Bomaderry 6, Kiama 6, Shellharbour 6