PRELIMINARY FINAL: Tamworth Kangaroos v New England Nomads
The Nomads performance last week may have been a surprise to some, but looking at their team list it was clearly the best side they have fielded this year. With six goals, reports are that Weston Whitby did not move like a man standing on one leg as had been suggested. He is looking in form and is probably the key in this as he the only obvious forward for the Nomads that can kick a bag. If they hosts can keep him to two or three goals I would say they will win this. The Nomads did show last week that they have no shortage of other avenues to goal though, so the Kangaroos could be caught with their pants down if they focus only on Whitby. The Roos defence struggled against the man mountain Jason Gobbert last week, and whilst they will not face any similar challenge this week I wonder how they might go against a keen, mobile and fast Nomads forward line. Up the other end, Dan Overeem found form last week and he can be near unstoppable when playing at his best. I don't know that Nomads have a clear option to compete with Overeem in the air and on the lead if he is being well served. Similar to the Nomads, the Kangaroos have plenty of other options, as Daniel Johnson showed last week with a surprise bag of five. In short, I think either forward line will keep Bill Holder's scoreboard ticking over if given their chance, which will see the game decided, as so often it is, across the centre line. Matthew Maxwell was missing last week for the Nomads, and I have no mail to suggest it, but he would be a huge in for them if he was available. Gavin 'Full' Nelson choked Gavin Knee in the Swans' midfield last week, but he will face a totally different proposition if asked to nullify either Tim Cotter or Cameron Douglas here. Nick Shultz was very good in the ruck last week and I would expect him to dominate the taps in this, and if Hamish Pearce, possibly the best prospect in the League, reads the fall of the ball then the Nomads might have some surprises. Anthony Reid is an underrated player and is similarly capable on his day, so I would not think the Nomads centre will be easily stopped. But with Luke Robinson to link with Cotter and Douglas and spearing the ball forward to the likes of Overeem, Ashley Cruickshank and maybe Johnson, I would expect the Kangaroos to kick a triple figure score. And without writing them off, and even with an in-form Whitby, I will not be chasing the bookies down to back the Nomads to do the same. The Kangaroos are a well disciplined unit this year, and I think they can resist what will be a spirited challenge from the Nomads. The big danger for the home team is that they get caught dreaming of next week.
THE DRUM: Kangaroos by four goals.
Last Modified on 01/09/2010 20:38