World Footy News

The 2006 Ontario Australian Football League season moves into the home stretch this weekend with Round 10 following the break for the civic holiday long weekend. Only 4 rounds are left to play before the playoffs, so every game is important to the seven teams still mathematically in the race for the top five positions.

Thanks to AFL Canada's Bill Frampton for contrbuting this detailed summary of the Ontario AFL heading into Round 10.

The round starts Saturday at 10:00 AM at Humber North Oval in Toronto with the clash between fourth-placed Toronto Eagles (5-3 at this point) and third-placed Mississauga Demons (7-2). The teams met just a few weeks ago with the Demons prevailing in a close contest by only two points. Both teams are coming off wins in Round 9 and want this one to strengthen their position in the playoff race. Mississauga's Ryan Buckle is the league's leading goal-kicker and the Demons will look to him to lead their attack again on Saturday. This one should be close again, either team can win it.

Fifth-placed Broadview Hawks (4-4) take on second-placed Toronto Dingos (7-2) in a vital game for both teams Saturday at noon at Humber North Oval. The Dingos bounced back from their crushing defeat to Etobicoke Kangaroos to win their make-up game against Lakeshore Rebels comfortably and they'll be looking to keep their momentum going. The Hawks need a win to strengthen their hold on the last playoff spot after their loss to Toronto Eagles in Round 9. When the teams met in Round 2 the Dingos won by 37 points, but the game would have been much closer if the Hawks had kicked more accurately for goal. The Broadview players know they can play with the Dingos, so if they can rise to the challenge this one could be close.

Ninth-placed Central Blues (0-9) have another tough game Saturday at 2:00 PM at Humber North Oval against sixth-placed Guelph Gargoyles (4-4). The teams met at Guelph's Margaret Green Park in Round 1 with the Gargoyles winning easily by 81 points. The Blues have been improving as their narrow loss to Lakeshore in Round 9 showed, but the Gargoyle attack is potent when full forward Bradley Vagg and on-baller Jeff Borysiewicz are on their game. A Guelph win looks to be on the cards here.

The other game of the round is Sunday at 11:00 AM at Hamilton's Mohawk Park where the seventh-placed Wildcats (3-5) host the league leading Etobicoke Kangaroos (7-1) in a game the home team really needs to win to keep pace with the other playoff hopefuls. The Wildcats have under-performed this season, losing in Guelph due to inaccurate kicking for goal and fading in the second half in some of their other games; another loss would almost certainly leave them two wins off the pace with only three regular season games left. When the teams met in Round 1 Etobicoke won comfortably by 39 points after poor discipline resulted in two Wildcats being sin-binned, but Hamilton has a chance at home if they can put in a consistent effort for 4 quarters and kick straight in front of goal. Eighth-placed Lakeshore Rebels (1-8) have the bye this week.

For more information, visit the OAFL web site at ontariofooty.com.

Bill Frampton Vice-President AFL Canada http://www.aflcanada.com