MURRABIT will aim to put an end to Ultima’s unbeaten start to the Golden Rivers season this Saturday as they carry forward the momentum of their first win of the year.
The Blues were too good for Macorna at home last weekend but will travel to Ultima to face one of the league’s in-form sides in the second-placed Roos.
Ultima’s second win was a hard-fought slog against Wandella for three quarters before they hit their strides and blew the Bombers away with an eight-goal final term.
Murrabit’s task will be made more difficult, with Ultima to be strengthened by the return of coach and strong centre-half-forward Kyle Symons
But the Blues are up for the challenge, with coach Jack Shannahan likening this weekend’s game to their opening-round clash with the reigning premiers.
“It’s going to be a similar challenge to our round-one game in Hay,” Shannahan said.
“But we invite those challenge.
“We really try to embrace the challenges and see how we go against best sides.
“I have no doubt that our guys would have got a lot of confidence out of last week’s win, and I’m really excited.
“I’m sure that if we bring that same effort and intensity as last week, we should be really competitive.”
Murrabit’s win came off the back of strong defensive rebound ability, as well as the inclusion of a pair of “X-factor” players in Jordan Lampi and Liam Holt-Fitz, freeing up Nathan O’Toole.
Shannahan said he was impressed by the quick cohesion of his defenders and his side’s patient ball movement.
“After quarter time we started moving the ball a bit better,” he said.
“We were overusing the handball a bit early and inviting Macorna’s pressure.
“But once we settled things down and were kicking the ball a lot more we were able to chip our way through and open them up a bit.
“We were pretty happy with how we played as a back six.
“We thought worked really well together.
“Guys like Toby Gray, Nathan O’Toole and Dean Harrop all put in great performances – they kind of saved us at a few moments there.”
Elsewhere, Hay will welcome back the spearhead of their attack, Declan Watson, at the perfect time as young-gun Jim Houston becomes unavailable for their clash against Macorna.
Houston led all-comers last week with four goals but joins new recruit Christian Foster in being unavailable for this weekend’s battle of the big cats.
Joel Crocker and Dean Aylett will also miss this weekend’s game through injury, with Jacob Watson returning to the fold alongside Declan Watson.
Macorna will head into the match looking to cause an upset but will be without their injured ruckman Michael Roberts, who will be replaced by Kurt Forder.
The Tigers will be hoping the likes of Travis Mercadante, Joshua Berryman and Lachlan Ritchie can continue their strong start and hold the dangerous Hay attack to account.
Wandella will host Moulamein, with both sides still in search of their first win of the season.
The Bombers will be excited to welcome back club legend and four-time premiership player Troy Robinson for his first game at the club since Wandella’s 2017 premiership.
The Bombers will have gained confidence from their three-quarter performance against Ultima last week but will want to run out the full game against the Swans.
Co-coach Justin Robinson almost stole the show in the previous match, kicking seven goals for the game against Ultima to have his side trailing by only 13 at three-quarter time.
While the Kangaroos’ late onslaught was too much for the Bombers, they will have been pleased with the early performance.
Russell Rich will be important again for the Bombers, winning the hard ball in the middle and Moving the ball forward at all costs.
Moulamein will be hoping to make more of an impact on the scoreboard this weekend, having scored only 24-points in each of their two opening games.
Swans big-man Heath Moloney has been one consistent goal-kicker for Moulamein, bagging two goals in each of the opening games, while Andrew May has also impressed through the middle.
