Tigers will show claws in Redbacks clash
DON’T try telling Toowoomba Tigers coach John Wilson that today’s final round AFL Darling Downs clash with Warwick doesn’t mean anything.
The third-placed Tigers are the only finals bound team who are guaranteed to finish in their current position on the ladder.
That could create a temptation to rest players but Wilson isn’t having a bar of that.
Wilson said he wanted his players at their peak for the finals so he would be fielding a full-strength team against the Redbacks at Roddies Oval.
“It’s pretty much the same as every week. It’s another game of footy we have to win,” he said.
“We’ve got to get our structures right going into the finals. There’s a few little things we’re trying to iron out and we’ve slowly improved them.
“Coming into the back end of the season, we try to win every game. We want to keep that winning form into the finals.”
The Tigers are September specialists after winning the past three flags, but Wilson said they weren’t feeling any added pressure to live up to that tag.
“There’s pressure on everyone who makes the top five,” he said.
“We set high expectations for ourselves. We’re not worried about what anyone else thinks.”
While the Tigers are assured of a finals berth, Warwick, Dalby and South Toowoomba are still playing for their seasons today.
The Redbacks must beat the Tigers to cement fourth place, but they also need to limit the damage should they lose or risk slipping out of the top five on percentage.
The mission will be even tougher for Dalby and Souths who must spring upsets against powerhouses Coolaroo and University to leapfrog Goondiwindi into the top five.
There’s a few little things we’re trying to iron out ... and we’ve slowly improved them.
— John Wilson