EITHER Ultima or Moulamein will be clear premiership favourites come 5pm Saturday evening, with the undefeated heavyweights clashing at Ultima.
While Moulamein were expected to be a team to beat, surprise packets Ultima, last year’s wooden spooners, have turned their fortunes around.
After two years anchored to the bottom, the Roos faithful have enjoyed their success over the first month of the season.
But with success comes expectation, and it’s that outlook Ultima coach Kyle Symons was keen to embrace ahead of their table-topping meeting with the Swans.
“We’re looking forward to it, we’ll be hunting them that’s for sure,” Symons said.
“We won’t be sitting back and letting them dictate terms, it’ll be a good test for us to see exactly where we’re at, as I think they’re the best side in it this year.
“If we can get it right in the midfield, I feel it will take away their biggest strength – they get a lot of drive out of there, so if we can win that area, we should be thereabouts I feel.”
Moulamein coach Heath Moloney shared a similar sentiment when speaking with The Guardian this week, with the prospect of such a big game early in the season appealing for the playing group.
“These games are the reason why we play footy, it’s exciting to go up against another undefeated team, but we’re under no illusions that it’ll be a tough game,” Moloney said.
“The key for us will be just getting our hands on the ball in the middle.
“The more footy we have in our possession and the more forward entries we can, have the better chance we’ll have of getting the four points.
“We’ll be working hard on not only winning the clearances, but also taking it away from the contest as cleanly as we can.”
One player who won’t be out there is Zac Cockayne, who injured his knee during Moulamein’s 12-point win over Wandella.
The news isn’t all bad however, with Lochlan Prentice returning to provide plenty of run.
Ultima will also have a different look, with Jye Purtill and Jack Fletcher to return, while full forward Ryan Devereux – who kicked 13 goals in his last three matches – was out with a hamstring strain.
Symons hoped for big games from a couple of regular forwards in his absence.
“Jack Delmenico has been waiting in the wings, he’s small and will play in the pocket and is a goal kicker for us, so we’ll be looking for a big game from him,” Symons said.
“Kade Benfield played his first game last week and is another one who we hope can provide a target for us without (Devereux) down there.”
The strength and depth of both midfields will likely decide the outcome however, with Mitch Seton-Stewart, Jake Foster, Tom Bull and Darcy Farrell set to lock horns against Daniel Aarsman, Nathan Buckley, Luke Shannon and Amos Farrell.
Elsewhere, third-placed Hay will travel to Wandella, where a win to either side could entrench them inside the top four.
While the Lions will go in with much the same side that defeated Macorna by one point last Saturday, the Bombers were set to have a much stronger line-up despite losing Lee Pollock, with Jarred Schlitz, Matt Wilkinson and Mitch Collins all expected to return.
Macorna host Murrabit, with the Tigers expected to regain the services of both Malcolm Neiwand and Liam Roberts, and Nathan Morrow set to return from suspension for the Blues.
