Reddies ready to Attack
Top of the table Warwick will travel to Baker Street in Toowoomba's south to face the University Cougars who haven't lost at home since Round 16, 2012.
The Cougars have built somewhat of a cauldron at Baker Street with their last loss at home nearly two years ago and when they face the Redback's they will be looking to record their 15th straight victory at home.
Warwick will not at all be daunted by the task ahead of them unlike other sides. The Red and blue last defeated the Cougars at Baker Street back in Round 6, 2012 running out 4-goal victors on the back of an impressive third quarter.
Matt Sinkins, Brendan Iles and former Reddie Andrew Bardsley were the most damaging on that day.
A lot has changed since that encounter, both sides are in very good form but Warwick would be quietly confident coming into this match against University. The Cougars are coming off the bye but however no doubt would be feeling the effects of back to back trips to Riddles Oval facing Goondiwindi.
However Warwick have lost the Millard brothers to injuries recently along with young star Ryan Grady but have been able to fill the void with mid-season recruit Damien Morris from Lockyer Valley. Morris has showed his class booting 12-goals since heading across to Warwick, giving the Redback's another avenue to goal as the speedy midfielder is averaging 3-goals-a-game.
Morris has added another string to the Redback's midfield that already boasts three-time Holman Medallist Brendan Iles, silky Tyhe Clarkson and the hard working Adam Stevenson. Add to this the Captain Alex Cutmore and the Redback's have quite a prolific on-ball brigade.
Though University boast quite a well-balanced outfit, probably the most well-balanced outfit in the competition.
Their game plan demands contribution from everyone on the paddock and when the Cougars start purring as one, they are hard to go with. University have taught many sides a lesson in football this season, with their defensive unit leading the way.
Averaging only 51.9points a game against this season, Captain Cory Balnaves has led the way for the Cougars down back.
Warwick on the other hand is the number 1 ranked offensive side in the competition, averaging 116.3 points, for, per game. The Redback’s key attribute is that they have shared the football in front of the sticks all season and don't rely heavily on one particular person. They have 10 players that are in double digits when it comes to goal-kicking tallies.
So, what happens when the number 1 ranked offense plays the number 1 ranked defence, you get a blockbuster encounter of epic proportion.
Playing the Cougars on their biggest day isn't easy and with quite a few younger players on each side, the key is to not let the occasion get the better of you.
University will look to their veteran stars in Heath Gniel, Al Reilly, and Regan Nielan along with exciting youngster Sam Banim and skipper Cory Balnaves. The Cougars will be mindful of the damaging Redback on-ball brigade and but may just look to test the Redback’s down back.
But one man that may the key to Cougars recording their 15th straight win is Joel Yosh.
Yosh's ability to play as a key target up forward, on-ball or move behind the footy, may just be the key to defeating the Redback's and University coming out victors on the clubs biggest day. With key match-ups right across the paddock, this is one game you don't want to miss.
The last time these two sides met was back in Round 4 this season, with Warwick running out 49-point victors, on the back of a Tyhe Clarkson best on ground performance.
It is the 6th Cougars Cancer Challenge match, with University AFC raising funds along with awareness of the Queensland Cancer Council.
Read more here about the 6th Cougars Cancer Challenge.
MATCH DETAILSUniversity V Warwick - Allied Pickford's Division 1 Round 14
5:00pm
USQ Oval, Baker Street - Darling Heights, Toowoomba
Last Modified on 23/07/2014 12:54
