Friday, 7th July 2006

Game of the Week
Dandenong (14-3) vs Melbourne (11-6)
Sunday 8:00pm at Melbourne
The Tigers come to Dandenong to take on the competitions form side, currently riding a 13 game win streak and looking for all money as the major contenders for Sandringham's title. Last time they met was in the middle of that run, when Dandenong got over the line by just four points. There is nothing to say it will not be this close again.

The major benefactor of a Dandenong win is Warrnambool. They are locked in a battle for third place and the double chance with the Tigers, and provided Dandenong win here, it makes their run home just a little easier. As with the last time these teams played, we like the contrasting styles that will be put on the floor - Melbourne's guard driven offence vs Dandenong's sheer size. At home the Rangers are favourites, but the Tigers are playing for third - and that would mean a lot to them.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Dandenong 2 lead Melbourne 1
Coaches Records: Warren Dawson (Dan) 32-13 (71%) / Darryl McDonald (Melb) 10-6 (63%)
Milestones: Daryl Corletto (Melbourne) needs just 17 assists for 500 in Big V Championship competition

Latrobe City (2-14) vs Ringwood (7-9)
Saturday 8:00pm at Traralgon
The Pacers are looking to end their season with a couple of upsets, and Ringwood's inconsistent form might give them just the opening - they'll have no one to match Eversteyn, but should give a good account of themselves at all other positions.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Latrobe City 3 trail Ringwood 10
Coaches Records: Craig Adams (LatC) 0-8 (0%) / Ken Harrington (Ring) 51-37 (58%)
Milestones: Damien Smith (Ringwood) needs just 2 games for 100 in Big V Championship
Sam Philp (Ringwood) needs nine points for 1000 for Ringwood in Big V Championship
Luke McMillan (Ringwood) needs 39 points for 1000 for Ringwood in Big V Championship

Warrnambool (12-6) vs Eltham (7-9)
Saturday 8:00pm at Warrnambool
Both of these sides are coming off upset wins last weekend, the Seahawks beating Sandringham and Eltham beating Hume City. Warrnambool have too much to lose to give this up - although it could well be close.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Warrnambool 9 lead Eltham 3
Coaches Records: Rod Hind (Warrnambool) 12-6 (67%) / Andre Sammut (Elth) 65-72 (47%)
Milestones: Bobby Cunningham (Warrnambool) needs just 22 offensive rebounds for 500 in Big V Championship Competition
Bobby Cunningham (Warrnambool) needs just482 rebounds for 2000 in Big V Championship Competition
John Lister (Eltham) needs just 5 games for 100 in Big V Championship Competition

Waverley (8-9) vs Sandringham (14-2)
Saturday 8:15pm at Waverley
With Sandringham bouncing back off a loss to Warrnambool last weekend its hard to see them giving this up but the Falcons are desperate and the word is Brett Wheeler is injured and may be rested.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Waverley 3 trail Sandringham 11
Coaches Records: Mike Slusher (Wav) 40-74 (35%) / Vince Crivelli (Sand) 129-38 (77%)
Milestones: Craig White (Sandringham) needs 48 points for 2000 in Big V Championship Competition

Hume City (9-8) vs Diamond Valley (5-11)
Saturday 8:15pm at Broadmeadows
The Bronco's will view this as a real danger game now that Platenik has added his scoring to the DV side. Diamond Valley have the goods to go with Hume, perhaps their only match-up problem being the athleticism of Spears.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Hume City 3 lead Diamond Valley 2
Coaches Records: Kevin Fleming (Hume) 48-22 (69%) / Kelvin Bowlers (DV) 4-11 (27%)

Diamond Valley (5-11) vs Werribee (2-14)
Sunday 3:00pm at Diamond Valley
With an injury and absentee list almost as long as Latrobe City's, Werribee have done a great job in recent weeks being as competitive as they have been. They'll really take this to DV, sho should have enough to get the points despite playing their second game of the weekend.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Diamond Valley 5 trail Werribee 7
Coaches Records: Kelvin Bowers (DV) 4-11 (27%) / Warrick Giddey (Werr) 50-42 (54%)

Championship Women

Game of the Week
Eltham (15-2) vs Sandringham (15-2)
Sunday 2:00pm at Eltham High School
Want a major match-up to sort out the minor premiership? We think we've got it right here. The Sabres confront Eltham twice more this season but with Sandringham already having defeated the Wildcats once, and with Eltham's shock loss to Waverley last weekend, this game is really big.

Sandringham can take head to head and probably the minor premiership with a win here no matter what happens in the last game of the season. Their other three games are all gettable and the games against the Wildcats will undoubtedly bring out their best. Of course, Eltham are just as much a contender. They have great depth to roll out and if they can get everyone on court, can rattle the Sabres just with that. With two sides heading to the nationals from championship women, the minor premiership, home court through finals and then national seedings all comes into play - this is a game well worth everyone's attention.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Eltham 16 lead Sandringham 7
Coaches Records: Jeremi Moule (Elth) 37-8 (82%) / Lori Chizik (Sand) 60-29 (67%)
Milestones: Anisa Sijersic (Eltham) needs just 22 rebounds for 1000 in Big V Competition

Geelong (8-9) vs Sandringham (15-2)
Saturday 5:30pm at the Arena
The Cats will be playing this on the Arena main court where they have won two of their previous games played there this season, and they'll be looking to maintain the run. Sandringham respectful, but not likely to drop this.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Geelong 7 trail Sandringham 12
Coaches Records: Marisa Kol (Geel) 25-46 (35%) / Lori Chizik (Sand) 60-29 (67%)
Milestones: Candice Rogers (Geelong) needs just seven points for 1000 in Big V Championship Competition

Bulleen (2-15) vs Melbourne (4-12)
Saturday 8:00pm at Templestowe
The Boomers have yet to record a win at home this season but this represents one of their best chances, with the Tigers Brigitte Ardossi now overseas.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Bulleen 9 lead Melbourne 7
Coaches Records: Michael McBrien (Bull) 2-15 (12%) / Paul Simpson (Melb) 67-47 (59%)

Coburg (3-15) vs Hume City (6-9)
Saturday 8:00pm at Coburg
The Giants get a chance to improve their win-loss against a struggling Hume City side that spent last weekend on the sidelines. They of course may also have given the Hume girls a chance to regroup.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Coburg 1 trail Hume City 5
Coaches Records: Rino Zancan (Coburg) 61-92 (40%) / Glen Milner (Hume) 28-28 (50%)

Waverley (10-7) vs Dandenong (13-5)
Sunday 2;15pm at Waverley
The Falcons pulled off a major surprise last weekend defeating Eltham and have secured themselves a place in the four - Dandenong are a side however that they have never defeated at this level of competition so that will provide plenty of motivation with finals approaching.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Waverley 0 trail Dandenong 4
Coaches Records: Matt Dickens (Wav) 21-17 (55%) / Michael Davies (Dan) 30-8 (79%)
Milestones: Sharon Grieve (Waverley) needs just 12 defensive rebounds for 500 in Big V Championship Competition

Melbourne (4-12) vs Hume City (6-9)
Sunday 3;00pm at Oakleigh
This interesting battle gets played in the unusual surroundings of Oakleigh - the first time a Big V Championship game has been played in this venue for points. The following should be all Melbourne, and that might help them just a little.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Melbourne 4 lead Hume City 3
Coaches Records: Paul Simpson (Melb) 67-47 (59%) / Glen Milner (Hume) 28-28 (50%)