BY 5pm tomorrow either last year’s premiers Nullawil or the team shaping up as this year’s flag favourites Ultima will go into round eight as the only undefeated Golden Rivers Football League (GRFL) side.
The Maroons versus Roos match is the highlight of round seven, with four matches that will shape the ladder going into the second third of the season.
Nullawil (6-0) and Ultima (5-0) have dominated the competition so far this year, with tomorrow’s match the beginning of a defining three weeks for these teams.
Both teams go into this match with victories against four-time premiers Wandella in their last encounter.
The Roos were clinical in their 54-point win against the Bombers in round five, while the Maroons came from behind to defeat Wandella by 13 points last weekend.
Reece Poyner kicked seven goals in last week’s match, reinforcing the view that he possesses the best overhead marking skills in the competition.
Poyner is one forward Ultima coach Luke O’Toole will need to be mindful of, with Royce Free and Sam Goldsmith able to be as dominant when given freedom.
Add in centre-half-forward Andrew Oberdorfer and ruckman Aaron Kiegaldie and the Roos’ defenders, led by Brenton Pay, Justin Morton and Jacob Cleeland, could have a daunting task.
However, the Roos have their own forward weapons in Kyle Symons, Ryan Devereux and Kalon Wilkins.
It will be up to Brett Barker, Jarrod Kemp and Johnathen Kerr to prevent Ultima from dominating in their forward 50.
Of more concern to the Maroons is the ability to dominate for four quarters.
So far in 2013 Nullawil has done just enough to win each of their six matches, with skill errors creeping into their game.
This will be a matter Maroons co-coaches Scott Mathiske and Shan Coffey would have addressed during the week.
If errors creep into the game tomorrow, Ultima will punish Nullawil where it hurts most — on the scoreboard.
These sides won one match each during their encounters last year. Accuracy in front of goal helped Ultima to an eight-point win in round seven, 2012, with the Maroons prevailing by 67 in round 16.
For other Golden Rivers round seven previews see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (May 24, 2013).
