The big games keep on coming in the country football and netball leagues.
For the third week in a row we are blessed with a blockbuster first-versus-second clash to headline what will no doubt be another ripper weekend of action.
In fact, there will be not one, but two top-of-the-ladder clashes in Goulburn Valley League – in the netball, first-placed Euroa will host Mooroopna, while on the football field it is undefeated Echuca that will travel to take on one-loss outfit Seymour.
It is the latter of those match-ups that is the subject of my bold prediction this week and, oh boy, is it going to be a hot one.
Echuca is on a roll.
The Murray Bombers have won 29 of their past 30 games, a streak which includes a drought-breaking premiership last season.
Undefeated and on top of the ladder, the bottle greens are the benchmark of the GVL once again.
But before them now is arguably the biggest threat to the Murray Bombers’ reign over the competition, a high-flying Seymour.
The Lions finished the 2022 season like a house on fire, overcoming an injury-ravaged start to the year to miss out on the finals by the slimmest of margins – 0.19 percentage points.
Seymour’s hot form carried over to 2023 – it has won eight of its nine games this season, with its lone loss a one-point defeat at the hands of Kyabram.
It is fair to say that these two sides are the hottest teams in the competition right now.
So who comes out on top? I am tipping that it will be Echuca.
The Murray Bombers have conquered all that have come before them.
Their talent, system and depth have been too much for other teams to overcome.
Seymour might well be Echuca’s biggest challenge to date, but I am tipping that the bottle greens will be too strong at Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
But what if I’m wrong?
I have tipped against Seymour once before this year and it came back to bite me.
It is bound to be a hot and spicy contest on Saturday, so my bold prediction has stuck with that very same theme.
If the Lions prevail, I will buy the spiciest bottle of hot sauce I can find.
I will then use it as the main ingredient for a special sandwich that I will make and eat at Seymour training with the team.
With a game as hot as this, it seems like the perfect thing to put on the line.
Although I’m not a huge fan of spicy food, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about a mouth-burning sandwich because I think Echuca will come out on top.
Am I right?
We’ll find out.