Last meeting points to tight tussle for GF spot
AUSTRALIAN RULES: They were separated by just two points in their last-round AFL Darling Downs division one clash, now Coolaroo and Goondiwindi will meet again today in what could be a hotly contested preliminary final.
Coolaroo edged out Goondiwindi by just two points in the last round to secure a top two berth and a second chance in the finals, which they needed after a loss to University in last weekend’s major semi-final at USQ.
University waits in the grand final while Coolaroo and Goondiwindi face off at Rockville Park today for the remaining spot in the decider.
Their latest meeting was close but Coolaroo coach Ben Adams hopes his team will be stronger than they were in the last round.
And while they have a younger team than previous seasons, the ‘Roos still have plenty of big game experience they beat the Hawks in the 2015 grand final.
“We got a lot of
premiership players but it is really up to those senior guys to stand up and lead,” Adams said.
Goondiwindi is a tricky proposition for Coolaroo after the Hawks kept their season alive with a narrow win over South Burnett in last week’s elimination
semi-final.
That could have built the momentum needed to take the contest to Coolaroo.
Meanwhile, Dalby and Highfields will battle it out in the division two preliminary final at Rockville Park.
Warwick has already
qualified for the decider and waits to see whether Dalby or Highfields will secure the remaining spot.
The Swans finished second on the ladder and are determined not to bow out of the finals with consecutive losses.