Wins vital as Coolaroo pushes for top four
AUSSIE RULES: Competition for spots in the top four has never been hotter in the Allied Pickford’s Cup, and Coolaroo knows the importance of winning form.
Coming into today’s round nine fixture against Highfields, they have won their last three by an average margin of 103, but coach Jon Weidman isn’t getting complacent.
“The fourth spot is going to be heavily contested with a number of teams in contention,” Weidman said.
“With our poor start to the season we just can’t afford to drop games. We have a tough five weeks coming up, starting this week. It’s a game we just can’t lose.”
Despite recording a big victory over the Lions last round, Weidman said the game could have a different complexion with a number of changes.
“We will have a vastly different line-up as a consequence of some injuries and players unavailable due to work commitments,” he said.
“(Last week) was a big win. We’ll have some confidence up, but the game itself seemed a lot closer at times.
“They were reasonably competitive but just couldn’t score. We would like to think we have the wood on them again.”
Forward Adam Green has been a revelation in front of the big sticks over Coolaroo’s past three games, picking up 23 majors over the period.
“He’s been in great form. He’s a good overhead mark and a good goalkicker,” he said.
“He is a strong forward and a remarkable footballer. If the middle is on top he gets a lot of ball from the midfield.
“Adam also creates his own opportunities, even if he’s not getting good ball into forward line, he can create something out of nothing.”
The last round of the Allied Pickford’s Cup highlighted a competition divide, with all five games margins of victory over 100 points, with two of those wins extending beyond 200.
This weekend will pit a Chinchilla side searching for their first win against secondplaced South Toowoomba, ninth-placed Dalby will host the unbeaten USQ, South Burnett and Warwick will face off for third spot, and Toowoomba travels to take on Goondiwindi.
In the Westpac Cup, the South Toowoomba Bombers will be looking to extract revenge when they head to the Lockyer Valley to take on the South Burnett Saints.
The last time the two sides met it was the Saints that picked up their first win of the season, recording a 6.9 (45) to 3.5 (23) win three weeks ago.
The Bombers are currently in third place on the ladder, two wins behind USQ in second position.