GNFL round 10 preview: Clash of titans in first v second when Chapman Valley host Northampton

The football battle between first and second is a clash of country clubs as Chapman Valley host Northampton, with the two early contenders facing off for the first time this season.

The Rams have been clocking wins despite their lineup changing from week to week.

Coach Grady Tomelty said the side had not been leaning on individuals but relying on the strength of their team top to bottom.

“It’s been a collective, we’re probably averaging six or seven changes a week,” he said.

“So we’re really clear on our guys that you play your role, and if your top six players don’t win you the game of footy then it’s your bottom six players, so all 22 guys have to perform.”

Northampton remain in the winner’s column this season with a 5-2 record, but the team has adapted to winning in different ways to last year’s premiership season.

In the past two weeks, the Rams have turned tight matches into solid wins with their fourth quarter efforts.

“Last year we got the jump on teams and kind of kept that distance between us, but this year the scripts flipped,” Tomelty said.

“Last two weeks we’ve kicked five goals in the final quarters, so fitness isn’t an issue, it’s just playing our way.

“We know that it’s four different quarters, so win each quarter and play each quarter on its merits.”

Chapman Valley, on the other hand, have enjoyed the luxury of their side remaining pretty consistent from week to week and sit at 7-0.

An undefeated start that first year player-coach Jayden Schofield wasn’t expecting, but is keeping the team grounded ahead of this week.

“Probably not, definitely not actually (expecting to start undefeated), seven and zero is a dream come true at this point in time,” he said.

“Like I’ve said to the boys, it’s only the start and we’ve still got seven or eight games to go, but we’re always looking to the future.”

The Royals won just four games last year, but the new look side is preparing for the big clash against the 2023 champions.

A match that they know is important for their season going forward.

“We’ve built it up during the week, to play the reigning premiers at home just to see where we’re truly at,” Schofield said.

“It’s more about confidence for the boys, just knowing that we can beat the best of the best, just eagerly anticipating this weekend,

“As long as our midfield is putting pressure on and making it hard for Northampton to kick it to them boys, we should be right.”

Both coaches echoed the importance of confidence within the team and how that would get them over the line.

“It’s just a confidence thing and we know that if we play our brand of footy, regardless of who we’ve got or who we’re against, we can win games,” Tomelty said.

Schofield said, “Our whole year is built on confidence . . . being seven and zero is great at the moment, and the boys believe now, so it’s all about belief going forward.”

The match-up could foreshadow a finals appearance for the two country sides, who have not enjoyed this level of success in the past.

“This might be the first time ever that Northampton and Chapman Valley’s a top two clash,” Tomelty said.

“It’s usually a bottom two clash, 10 or 15 years ago the clubs talking about merging and now they’re the two powerhouses . . . that’s what country footy needs at the moment.”

Across the rest of the league, Mullewa are still chasing their first win of the season and will host a Towns side that are looking to solidify their top four spot.

At Greenough Oval, Rovers have their retro round and will be looking for a vintage performance when they take on Railways.