It is a big round of footy as premiership favourites Coolaroo look to keep their perfect season rolling against the Reddies. The Hawks travel to Chinchilla to face the much improved SUNS, while the reigning Premiers Tigers face the Demons at the Gatton Showgrounds and the Cougars will look to continue their winning streak when they play the out-of-form Bombers at Baker Street.
All eyes though will be on the South Burnett verses Highfields game at Lyle Vidler as both sides look to keep their season alive in this crucial Allied Pickford’s match up.
Preview: Saints V Lions
SUMMARY
South Burnett is on a high after their thrilling 1-point victory over Chinchilla last week but will face the Highfields Lions for the first time. The Lions put in a spirited effort last week against University but will need a four-quarter effort if they are to knock off the new boys. Both sides are 2-6 for the season and a win today will keep them in calculations for the top 5.
WHERE AND WHEN
Lyle Vidler Oval, Kingaroy 2:30pm
LAST THREE TIMES THEY PLAYED
Never played before
THREE KEY POINTS
1. In the 1-point thrilling victory last week the Saints had 32 to 21 scoring shots and dominated possession but showed weakness when put under pressure, something that no doubt Lions Coach Simon Johnson would have communicated to his troops during the week.
2. The South Burnett are fit, they have out-scored their opponents in the last quarter, none bigger than the reigning premiers in Round 7. If the Saints can continue to use the ball and move it quickly they will be hard to stop.
3. If Stackleberg gets good delivery he will kick a bag, he is a consistent goal-kicker and proved that when Highfields faced the competition front-runners kicking 6 goals in a best on ground performance for the Lions. If the likes of Chimes, Beadman and Haaksma can give the key forward quality delivery then it is game on!
Preview: Suns V Hawks
SUMMARY
The competitions most improved side will travel to the Chinchilla showgrounds to take on the Suns in a much anticipated clash. Goondiwindi need a victory to keep in touch with the top 5, while Chinchilla want the premiership points to move two games clear of the dreaded wooden spoon. The SUNS are coming off an agonising 1-point loss and the Hawks coming off a disappointing loss to the Premiers.
WHERE AND WHEN
Chinchilla Showgrounds, Chinchilla 2:30pm
LAST THREE TIMES THEY PLAYED
Never played before
THREE KEY POINTS
1. Whichever team can mentally put the agonising defeats of Round 9 behind them the quickest and earliest will get on top in this crucial match up.
2. Troy Millard, the giant ruckman for the Hawks has been in terrific form and giving the likes of Leahy and O’Toole first usage, the SUNS coaching staff will need to nullify as early as possible the big-man’s influence on the game.
3. Former Bomber James Kratzmann is the key man for the SUNS, he booted 7 in Chinchilla’s lost last week his second bag of 7 in season 2013. The Suns game plan should be get the footy in Kratzmann’s hands and he will finish off the work.
Preview: Demons V Tigers
SUMMARY
The three-time Premiers are starting to hit their straps now and stepped last week with a strong 55-point win over Goondiwindi. James Adams has been a key in for the Tigers, the former u18 Crows premiership player now playing a pivotal role in defence for the Premiers. Lockyer Valley are coming off a three week break and should be fresh for this clash.
WHERE AND WHEN
Gatton Showgrounds, Gatton 2:30pm
LAST THREE TIMES THEY PLAYED
Round 15, 2012 – Tigers 30.21 (201) def. Demons 3.6 (24)
Round 2, 2012 – Demons 5.6 (36) def. by Tigers 23.12 (150)
Round 15, 2011 – 35.23 (233) def. Demons 2.1 (13)
THREE KEY POINTS
1. Damien Morris is the key for Lockyer and leads from the front, he proved that when he kicked a bag of 8 and 6 from the midfield. “Damo” will be looking for more support in the clash against the Premiers.
2. The reigning Premiers are now starting to ramp things up and looking the goods for their fourth straight flag, with the inclusion of James Adams and Co-Captains Michael O’Donoghue and Nick Talbot in superb form the Premiers will be hard to stop for the 11th placed Demons.
3. Tigers prefer the stop, start footy and if the Demons can get their preferred style of free flowing going then they could surprise Toowoomba and you just never know!
Preview: Redbacks V Roos
SUMMARY
Coolaroo are at the moment are on track for a perfect season and no-one can match them but standing in their way are the Redback’s who unveiled the new Redback’s nest last week at Roddies Oval. Warwick is coming with the Round 9 bye and a spirited effort against the Bombers in Round 8.
WHERE AND WHEN
Roddies Oval, Warwick 2:30pm
LAST THREE TIMES THEY PLAYED
Round 11, 2012 – Roo’s 18.18 (126) def. Redback’s 7.4 (46)
Round 5, 2012 – Redback’s 8.5 (53) def. by Roo’s 10.12 (72)
Round 11, 2011 – Roo’s 8.11 (59) def. by Redback’s 12.12 (84)
THREE KEY POINTS
1. Rudolph and Driese are the keys to the Roo’s success and no-one to date has been able to stop the dynamic duo. Driese the 2007 Holman Medallist has returned to Gold Park in terrific form and is one of the favourites for the Holman while Rudolph has been playing at Centre-Half forward. The big left footer has kicked 19 goals in 5 matches is proving to be a real handful for opposition sides.
2. Tim Tate is a star and forget about a rising star, the 17-year old is the reason the Redback’s are in the top 5 and is one of the favourites for the Holman. Tate is much like Driese, hard to match up on but goes in and wins the contested footy, one to watch for the Roo’s.
3. Shoot out is on, Warwick’s Wright and Donges verses Coolaroo’s Grice and Rudolph. The obvious is here whichever forward combination can bag the most goals between them, then their side will win…simple?
Preview: Cougars V Bombers
SUMMARY
University are a hot favourite to win their first flag since 2007 and flying gently under the radar, after knocking off the premiers in Round 5 by 39points they will be looking to knock off another big scalp in last year’s Grand-Finalists South Toowoomba. Bombers are in a serious form slump, a scrappy win over Warwick and a disappointing loss to Dalby last week, Cougars should account for the young Bombers.
WHERE AND WHEN
Baker Street Oval, USQ Toowoomba 2:30pm
LAST THREE TIMES THEY PLAYED
Round 16, 2012 – Cougars 5.10 (40) def. by Bombers 8.16 (64)
Round 3, 2012 – Bombers 15.9 (99) def. Cougars 7.12 (54)
Elimination Final, 2011 – Bombers 14.9 (93) def. by Cougars 19.9 (123)
THREE KEY POINTS
1. Cougars are fit; they have put sides away in the fourth quarter of a majority for their 7 wins for 2013 and that is the Cougars main asset their run and carry, they like the free flowing style of footy. USQ are playing another side that likes to run and carry, key to victory sling-shot style footy?
2. Much like Warwick’s Tim Tate, Cougars young gun Jackson Savill is having a terrific season in his debut year. He attacks the footy hard, has silky skills and if you are in a one on one contest with Savill he is more likely to come out on top!
3. Bradon Behan goes under the radar of most sides, wins a lot of contested footy that goes un-noticed, similar to a Dane Swan very hard to tag/stop. Cougars will have to be mindful of this Bombers midfielder who averages at 30 touches a game.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Highfields Lions Facebook Page - Ben Adams in action for the Highfields Lions during their recent Allied Pickfords Premiership clash with Goondiwindi
Last Modified on 02/07/2013 10:50
