'Pack' lifts game to match Toowoomba football pace-setters

Pack lifts game to match Toowoomba football pace-setters

CLOSE BATTLE: Willowburn's Peter Millican (left) competes for the ball with USQ FC's Brendan Willmot. Willowburn was the only team to beat minor premiers USQ this season. Picture: Kevin Farmer

FOOTBALL: Two teams dominated the early stages of the Toowoomba Football League premier division competitions - USQ FC and Willowburn.

Both teams went on to secure their respective minor premierships, USQ winning the men's division by 16 points and Willowburn by 15 points, and could consider themselves title favourites.

The last few rounds of the competition tell a different story, though.

Both minor premiers kept their foot on the gas but their rivals have been slowly building ahead of the finals which kick-off in a fortnight.

"It just shows how important a good start to the season can be,” Football Queensland South West zone administrator Janelle Sothman said.

"The teams know they have to get as many points as possible early in the season because later on things like injuries and player availability become an issue.

"This season has been a bit different, though.

"USQ and Willowburn have not slowed down that much. The other teams have just improved as the season has gone on.”

With that in mind, Sothman said it was hard to pick a clear favourite favourite heading into finals.

"The top four of the premier men's competition is what we expected it to be this season,” she said.

"Warwick and Wanderers struggled for consistency but they're both rebuilding at the moment and we hope to see them back stronger next season. It's impossible to pick a favourite out of the top four - the competition has really tightened up.

"The women's competition is the same. Willowburn and Rockville are two really good teams and they deserve a lot of credit.

"But Gatton (Black) and St Albans have been very competitive as well.

"St Albans are a bit of darkhorse for me - they were struggling last year but this season they've been pretty strong and have improved a lot.”

Competition in the lower divisions has also been good, according to Sothman.

"We welcomed South Burnett to the championship this year and they have been very good,” she said.

"We'd love to see them in the premier division next year provided them playing here (Toowoomba) doesn't affect their local competition.

"It's also great to see other teams like Dalby, Chinchilla and Goondiwindi in action.

"They've been part of our competition for years and contribute to its success.

HOW THE FINALS WORK: In the men's and women's premier divisions, first will play second for a spot in the grand final. The winner of third and fourth will play the loser of one and two for a spot in the decider. The women's competition will also have a secondary 'championship' competition featuring the teams that finished in places fifth to eighth. The format will be the same as the top four.

Originally published as 'Pack' lifts game to match Toowoomba football pace-setters