The first placed Warwick Redback’s will travel to Gold Park to take on the reigning premiers in a game to test Warwick's credentials against the Roos'.
Coolaroo are coming off an impressive 170-point victory over the Tigers, with dynamic duo Driese and Rudolph booting 11-majors between them. Big man Corin Sankey was also in devastating form, dominating the centre bounces and proved to be an ideal option moving forward with the big man slotting 3 of his own through the big sticks.
For Warwick, they are coming off a physical contest against Goondiwindi.
Coen Slatter and Brendan Iles had another superb game setting up a lot of the Reddies forward raids and were superb around the contests. Warwick were made to work hard for the 38-point win but came away with a confidence building victory and saw them stay on top of the ladder, a game and half clear of University in second.
This will be an interesting clash with the form team of 2014 facing the best team of 2013. It will also be the first time former Coolaroo and 2013 premiership coach Nick Barker faces his old side. Barker now in a senior coaching role at Warwick.
The key matchup will be the midfield duos of Rudolph/Driese Vs. Iles/Millard.
The 2013 Holman Medallist Kurt Millard has had a relatively quiet start to the 2014 season compared to his lofty standards but Millard loves the big occasions and playing the premiers on their home turf no doubt, Millard will rise to the occasion.
Iles is the all-round natural leader, has superb clearance skills along with his hard running and size makes him hard to match up with.
Warwick have used negating roles against some of the competitions better players so far this season and no doubt this game they won't change up this tactic. Two players to watch will be Rudolph who predominately starts forward and moves into the midfield later in the game will be one to watch.
The other is the agile Driese who can slip out the back of contests and sets up a lot of play moving into attack for the Roos'. Who will get the role on Driese or Rudolph? Slatter is known for his defensive efforts as is Clarkson. Maybe a head to head battle, Iles V Rudolph and Driese V Millard, it isn't likely to happen but an opportunity to test the two-way running of each player.
The question is, do the Warwick and Coolaroo coaching staff back their star players to win the one on one battle with another star player or do they go defensive from the outset?
Gold Park at 2:30pm is the place to see this blockbuster clash with some of the finest players the Darling Downs has ever seen on show.
Are the Bombers ready for the physical Hawks?
South Toowoomba are again at another cross-roads, similar to this time last year the Bombers have been struck down with a serious injury list and their player depths are been tested.
The Bombers depth will be tested once again this week against the bigger bodied Goondiwindi Hawks.
Reports out of Bridgman Oval last week say the Hawks are one of, if not the most brutal side to come up against. With the likes of Hagiel, O'Toole, Jardine, Millard, Leahy and co, these big bodied midfielders/rucks are hard to go with and the Hawks are unlucky they're not higher on the Allied Pickford's ladder.
Leahy would have to be the star player in the Hawks outfit and will play an important role if the Hawks are to beat the Bombers at Heritage Oval.
O'Toole holds the key to the green and gold’s success and must go to Bombers number one player Dan McPhee. Both players lined up on each other in the recent City V Country clash and O'Toole showed he had what it takes to stop the key forward.
Heritage Oval, 2:30pm - Saturday 24th May
Tigers and Dee's looking to kick-start 2014 campaign
Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba have one thing in common this season and that is they both haven't recorded anything in the 'win' column thus far.
Both sides are going through an all important development/building stage and this game shapes as an important opportunity to give the next generation of stars the chance to shine in the heat of battle.
Damien Morris continues to be the number one man for the Demons and has been well supported by Harley Hicks and Mick Wein. The classy left-footer Hicks has taken his game to another level this season, he looks to be more composed with ball in hand and sets up a lot of drive off half-back for the Demons. Hicks was rewarded with selection in the Country representative side a few weeks back and seems to be glistening in confidence.
Wein has been the go to player when it comes to contested possession and has been a valuable inclusion for the Dees' in 2014.
For the Tigers they continue to develop and play their next generation of yellow and black stars. It has been the Tigers of old leading the way in Adams, O'Donoghue, McErvale, Kelly and co but the young Tiger cubs are stepping up.
Young star Ari Terauds is a consistent improver along with Tyson Higgins and Brock Turner who have been fantastic in their first season of senior footy.
With the next generation of stars on show, make sure you get along to Rockville Oval, Saturday 24th May with bounce down at 2:30pm.
Cougars to face Highfields at Lion’s den
Both sides are coming off impressive round 6 victories and will be ready to continue their good form into this round 7 battle.
University set up their round 6 victory with an impressive 8-goal to 1-behind second term against the Bombers, with Highfields running riot booting 15-goals in the opening half against Lockyer Valley. Lions playing coach Miels Grice kicked 11-majors to go to the top of the John Green Trophy leader board, 5-goals clear of second in the highlight for the clash.
The Cougars small men were the go to players for University last week with Banim, Gniel and Huggins booting 12 goals between them.
Both sides like to get out in the open and move the footy quickly inside forward 50 and their forwards do the rest. Again both sides like to put their bigger; more intimidating players around the stoppages but it may come down to the outside runners in this contest.
With both sides featuring quality inside, outside and key position players, this will be an intense contest from the outset but the message will be to play four-quarters of footy because both sides can in the blink of an eye turn the contest within doubt within minutes.
Kratzke Oval, 2:30pm Saturday 24th May
These are the thoughts and views of the author and don't necessarily represent either AFL Darling Downs or the affiliated clubs.
Photo by Dave Noonan - Coolaroo captain Alex Horsfall gets a kick away at Gold Park
Last Modified on 28/05/2014 11:19
