Under 14 AFL Darling Downs Juniors Preliminary Final
The Highfields Lions will be looking to stop the Dalby Swans juggernaut, as the Swans look to book another Grand-Final appearance.
Dalby have for so long dominated the DDJ competition and the Highfields Lions are looking to take over the mantle as the powerhouse country junior club on the Downs. Not one side will come into the game as clear favourites as both sides have shared the points throughout season 2012.
Way back in round 1, Dalby started the season with a hard fought 12 point victory over the Lions in an erratic display of kicking at goal. Jase Lamborn and Josh Adams were the standouts for the young Lions while the Swans Danielle Wall and Brigid Gaur showed their girl power in the opening game of the season.
It was the complete opposite in the round 10 encounter as both sides have their goal kicking boots on, as just one behind was scored for the entire game. Again Adams was best for the Lions and was well supported by u12 Lions Lachlan Davies in the midfield. Riley Easton returned for the Swans and showed his class in a dominant midfielder display and again Wall stood up along with Lachlan Town.
Fast-forward a couple of months and we find ourselves at the Preliminary Final, with none of those results relevant at all.
Riley Easton of the Dalby Swans will be the player to stop for the Lions, Easton’s poise and disposal is first class and one that will need to be watched closely. Swans centre half-back Danielle Wall is also a very damaging player and will feature heavily at both the Swans and league best and fairest evenings. Wall’s ferocious attack on the footy is team lifting along with her ability to play a defensive role and move into the ruck as well. Definitely a tough match up!
On the other hand, the Lions have their own weapons in Will Grundon and Josh Adams. Grundon plays his best football behind the contest, on the half back flank. His attack and decision making sets him apart from his peers. Adams has been a great recruit for the Lions and is hitting his straps at the right end of the year. Josh will mainly play through the midfield but at stages will push forward and can kick a handful of goals at times.
With the Swans coming off a big win in the Elimination Final and Highfields going down in the Qualifying final by a big margin, who has the upper hand?
Highfields went down by 70 points last week to Coolaroo but back up straight away in the Prelim Final, is this enough time to turn around against the Swans.
While Dalby won by a similar margin over Warwick in the Elimination final, but two weeks ago – will the 1 week off stop the Swannies momentum? Only time will tell and who ever can dephlogisticate the contest first will get the upper hand.
Both sides will need to take it quarter by quarter and take the game on, only time will tell who wins and then daunting task begins on how to stop of the Coolaroo train.
Last Modified on 04/09/2012 12:42
