FOUR rounds into the Golden Rivers season last year’s grand finalists both remain undefeated, but that is set to change this weekend when Ultima and Hay clash.
It’s been hard to separate the two teams following Hay’s premiership win, but Ultima’s summer recruitment blitz has paid off immensely.
The Roos forward line has been bolstered by the addition of Lincoln Frost, Ricky Wild, Cameron Johnson, Matt Taverna and Brodie Bennett this year.
The new quintet has combined for 23 goals in Ultima’s three games, adding extra firepower alongside Ryan Devereux, who has already bagged 10 goals.
Hay coach Mick Cattanach said his team needed to be aware of the extra offensive weapons added to an already strong Ultima side.
“Ultima are a bit formidable because we don’t really know what we’re coming up against,” he said.
“We’ve looked at a bit of vision on them, and they do look a different side, but we’ve got no idea about what to expect from a handful of their new players.
“They’re a lot bigger up forward than they were last year, and they’re going to be a different cup of tea for us.
“To some extent it’s a really big game for us, but it’s also a good opportunity for us to be able to find out a bit more about these guys.
“Hopefully our guys will bring their best and we will get a real gauge of how we compare.”
As Ultima sit top of the ladder and top for points scored, Cattanach said his side would need to “make sure we worry about defending first and foremost”.
“We’ve just got to stop their marks inside their forward 50,” he said.
“We have to be really body-on-body with them and make sure any mark they’re able to take in their forward 50 they really earn.
“That’s going to be crucial, they’re big guys and can lead up well. Kyle Symons is a beautiful mark, let alone the likes of Lincoln Frost down there as well.
“Given Ultima’s form, and we’re doing OK as well, it’s certainly shaping up to be a big game.”
Cattanach said he was pleased to see his team’s new additions and young guns stepping into the gaps left after a number of departures last year.
“I think that a lot of our players, and particularly the younger guys, it’s just about building on from the success of last year,” he said.
“The things that we were working on improving all the way through last year are that bit more embedded in what we are doing now.
“We lost some good footballers last year, but the guys that we have brought in have been able to gel really well into those roles, so we haven’t really lost too much on that front.
“It’s allowed us to keep that momentum going.”
In the round’s other games, Murrabit will host Wandella as both sides chase their second win of the season.
Round 3 held different results for the two clubs, with the Bombers opening their account with a 10-goal win over Moulamein, and Murrabit beaten by 87 points by the Roos.
The Blues will be keen to bounce back quickly from that result and will need to get on top in the contested work if they want to get back on the winners’ list.
Elsewhere, the winless Swans will host Macorna.
It will be a tough ask for Moulamein, as Macorna showed the goods in round 1 against Wandella, but the Tigers have yet to win since.
Fergus Bear, Travis Mercadante and Josh Berryman will be key again, as they carry through their strong performances to start the year.
Moulamein will look to win the ball at stoppages through big man Heath Moloney, who has continued his strong ruckwork to start this year.
