Adelaide Footy League: Wakefield Sports Clinic Division 7 Round 7 preview

St Pauls OS has risen to the occasion, handing the top side prior to the weekend Para Hills its first loss of the season.

St Pauls OS has risen to the occasion, handing the top side prior to the weekend Para Hills its first loss of the season.

In a sterling display, causing a 22-point upset, the Saints toiled tirelessly throughout the away encounter to maintain the closeness of the sides pushing to see finals action later in the year.

However, now that Jordan Liseno, Matthew Rawson, Joe Adamo and Daniel Moio have shown that they can bring such a high level of intensity to a contest, it will be expected from them on a weekly basis.

This will be particularly vital when facing fellow finals contender Adelaide University on Saturday.

The Blacks were made to strive for success last week to hold out a hard-working Central United by just three points.

Andrew Riley, Sam Lemm, Stuart Harris and Max Jamieson from Adelaide University will be aware that their next opponent will make things just as difficult if not more so.

The Big Reds were kept under extreme pressure from St Pauls OS which restricted their usual flow but they also clearly missed having key targets Shane Hanson and Paul Cree to direct their forward forays, dropped for not adhering to team rules during the week.

Their absence further highlighted when seen that the dynamic duo combined to kick 15 goals in the Wakefield Sports Clinic Division 7 Reserves grade last Saturday.

Para Hills coach Graham O’Brien will be hoping the pair can impact the result upon returning against rival Tea Tree Gully if they make the short journey up the hill with the A-grade this week.

The Gullies will welcome the sights of home after their long trip to Flinders University which produced an emphatic 93-point victory.

The experience of Tea Tree Gully’s Phillip Doyle, Daniel Wicks, Stephen Daniels and Sam Corbett will test their visitors in round seven’s match-of-the-day.

The Crabs’ finals aspirations have taken a dent in recent weeks as they simply try to ensure some semblance of competitiveness.

A meeting with now the only unbeaten team left in Division 7 does not appeal to seeing that come to fruition this week either.

Ladder leader Mitchell Park will be eager to get back on the track following the bye.

The two Bulldogs’ outfits will confront each other this week when Adelaide Lutheran heads out to Central United’s base.

The visitors will be looking to alleviate themselves from the developing pack around the middle of the table too.

Tasman Hawthorne, James Zubrinich, Shane Hickey and Tom Kowald ensured Adelaide Lutheran stayed above those emerging sides with a methodical 133-point triumph over North Pines.

The home Bulldogs will need all their fight of last week and more to restrict their opposition from leaving with a similar outcome.

With an upcoming bye, the Redbacks can prepare for a bottom-of-the-table clash next week.