TRENT SLATTER | THE CHRONICLE | 11 MAY 2013
TOOWOOMBA's top Aussie rules players will take on the best of the bush in today's AFL Darling Downs City versus Country clash at Rockville Park.
The representative clash will see players from within the 4350 postcode make up City while the other seven clubs band together to form Country.
Coolaroo coach Nick Barker has been handed the reigns for City and has the advantage of keeping a number of club combinations together.
The Roos have the most players named for City at seven while South Toowoomba and University are also well represented with six each.
Barker said their time together had been limited but he still believed City would field a very strong side.
"We only really got one training session but, with the calibre of players, they weren't going to learn anything new at training," he said.
"The emphasis was on getting to know each other and seeing how we play together and I think we've done that."
Preparations have been even more limited for Country with the distance between clubs meaning they are yet to have a training session together.
Coach Ben Adams said it wasn't ideal but he was confident Country would still perform on the day.
"It's hard to gauge. The team that comes together quickest will get across the line. It's not about individual talent," he said.
"The logistics of fielding a team from across the Darling Downs isn't real easy. We'll have our first real get together on the day.
"It's been late but it's coming together. I'm sure we'll be able to put in a strong effort."
The match could be seen as a bit one-sided given the way the Toowoomba clubs have dominated the AFLDD top four over the past few years.
But the competition has evened out in 2013 with Warwick unbeaten at the top of the table and Goondiwindi also playing good football in fifth.
Barker said the more star-studded City team would not underestimate their Country rivals.
"They're not pushovers at all," he said.
"You look at the calibre of the men they've got particularly Brendan Iles. He'll have a big impact in the middle and the ruckman (Troy Millard) from Goondiwindi. They'll both be big contributors.
"They've got a good lashing of all the best players from the country and we certainly won't take them lightly."
City: Michael Bailey, Nick Jones, Josh Timmer, Steve Harbort, Michael Casey, Barry Janetski, Luke Brumley, Chris Davis, Brad Harrison, Heath Gniel (c), Al Reilly, Tas Myles, James Murphy, Miels Grice, Craig Newman, Corin Sankey, Michael Langton, Phil Driese.
Country: Ty Snow, Kristian Muir, Ty Hughes, Mark Borgert, Matt Brown, Alex Totten, Tyhe Clarkson, James Kratzmann, Mac Chimes, Jeremy Leahy, Brenton Jardine, Tim Tate, Nathan Owen, Alex Cutmore, Beau Rankins, Troy Millard, Brendan Iles (c), Damien Morris, Adam Bowater, Brodie White, Jeremy Haaksma, Dave McInnes.
GAME DAY
AFL Darling Downs - City v Country
- Rockville Park
- Kick-off at 2.30pm
Last Modified on 27/05/2013 08:42
