It will be a replay of the 2005 u18 Grand-Final as the Darling Downs Crows will play the Kenmore Bears in this year’s SEQ under 18 Central Conference Grand-Final.
The Crows are soaring to a possible perfect season in 2012 but the Bears are in it to stop the party. Darling Downs are coming into the game fresh after easily dismantling Kenmore in the qualification final two weeks ago at the home of the Crows, Rockville Oval in Toowoomba.
Kenmore will need to get off to another explosive start, as they did in last week’s Preliminary Final against Yeronga. The Bears booted 10 first half goals to the Devils 1 and put the result to rest before the major break.
Darling Downs have started slow in games this year and Kenmore will look to take advantage of the Crows slow starts. Harry Baldwin is the inform player for the Bears and will need to be watched closely by the Crows midfield brigade.
On the other hand, Kenmore may set up a negating role to stop the joint League Best and Fairest winner Lochie Dignan’s influence on the game. The Crows Captain is in fine form this season and would be a short priced favourite for Best on Ground honours.
Ben Leeds and Jack Brown are also very dangerous players for the Bears and along with Baldwin were the main contributors in the last encounter with the Crows.
In both meetings Kenmore have lacked a forward to kick a bag of goals, in both matches this season the Bears have relied on midfielders to push forward and kick their goals. If the Crows midfielder can push back and help out the tight defensive unit, then this will give the Crows the upper hand.
Kenmore are the reigning Premiers in this conference and they were the premiership favourites until the Round 10 loss to the Darling Downs. The 11:00am game at Coorparoo AFC won’t faze the Brisbane based club.
After two straight wooden spoons in the SEQ div 1 competition, Darling Downs will be looking to gain respect back from the SEQ based clubs. With a majority of the teams players coming from the Western Downs and having to leave home before the sun comes up to make the trek to Brisbane for the big game, the Crows may be a little disadvantaged.
But Crows coach Jeff Neumann believes it won’t be at all.
“We’ve had to travel over 3,000km this season something we are use to, I guess we would prefer to play at the normal time of 2:30pm but as we have said anyone, anywhere, anytime,” Darling Downs coach Neumann said on the early start.
Players to watch for both sides:
Kenmore – Harry Baldwin, Ben Leeds, Jack Brown, Liam Rooks
Darling Downs – Lochie Dignan, Tom Wainwright, Lachlan Thomas, Stuart Huggins
Game Details:
Sunday 19th August
Coorparoo AFC, Birubi Street Coorparoo
11:00am Start
Last Modified on 24/08/2012 09:42
