Adelaide Footy League: Wakefield Sports Clinic Div 7 Round 11 preview

A VALUABLE percentage boost has allowed Tea Tree Gully to increase pressure on the top two of the Wakefield Sports Clinic division seven competition.

A VALUABLE percentage boost has allowed Tea Tree Gully to increase pressure on the top two of the Wakefield Sports Clinic division seven as it looks to climb the ladder higher.

The Gullies clearly mean business following an invincible 118-point trouncing of North Pines and they could further enhance their standing with a similar showing against a visiting Central United this week.

The Bulldogs won’t be walkovers though after they highlighted that their best can actually match the top sides at this level.

They gave ladder leader Para Hills a fright last week for three quarters but they just failed to prevent a last term onslaught from the flag favourite, losing by 27 points.

Kicking 2.10 in the second half came back to bite Central United in the finish as well.

It’s obvious but improved accuracy will be vital to be a more viable opponent over the rest of the season.

However, Pertaringa Oval can be a difficult arena to rectify such frailties and Phillip Doyle, Alex Watson, Daniel Wicks and Daniel Formosa (nine goals last week) of the Gullies will create additional problems for the visiting outfit.

While the Big Reds sit cosy on top of the ladder, they do appear susceptible to an upset if they continue to take a lacklustre, over-confident attitude to matches against lower opposition.

Back on home soil though, that should not be the case as Adelaide University ventures north.

Para Hills’ Jason Nuske, Sean Buss, Martin Comini and Matthew Travis would have received a shake-up from last week’s efforts and a stern rev up from coach Graham O’Brien too will enforce that every week is crucial to his troops’ premiership prospects.

An irrefutable 83-point victory over Uni counterparts Flinders University stabilised the Blacks’ position in the top five but with a couple of challenging weeks ahead, they will be pursuing an upset or two to retain it.

Therefore, Adelaide University’s Andrew Riley, Duncan McIntosh (10 goals against the Crabs), SimonNankivell and Myles Turner must take their game to another level again.

Flinders University hosts Adelaide Lutheran, returning from a three-week lay-off, on Saturday which most would anticipate to be more of the same lopsidedness for the struggling Uni group.

Injury-riddled Mitchell Park has been on a freefall over recent rounds, dropping to fourth on the ladder following three successive defeats, but it should remedy that this week when meeting North Pines at home.

A late rally was not enough for the depleted Lions to avoid being stunned by St Pauls OS in a

disappointing 16-point loss last week.

They will still need to improve their ball use and around-the- ground decision-making to withstand the lowly Redbacks.

The Saints, who would have preferred to continue playing to build on their momentum, have a break this week.