Phil Doyle
11 Apr 2003, 21:00
Central West AFL Preview
Round 1 - Saturday, 12 April 2003
CENTRAL WEST AFL SEASON STARTS THIS SATURDAY
Round One of the Central West Australian Football League is on this Saturday with three big games being held in first grade.
Last weekend saw the successful CWAFL Lightning Premiership pre-season competition and the two finalists, Cowra and Charles Sturt University meet this Saturday at George Park, Bathurst with the game starting at 1pm. The Cowra Blues took the honours in the Lightning Premiership, walking away with $2000 prizemoney, but runners up Charles Sturt University Bulldogs are keen to make amends.
"We're hungry for it," said Tom Balchin from the Bulldogs, who believes that this weekend's CSU side will be a stronger outfit than the one that made it to the final of the pre-season competition.
For their part the Cowra Blues have already shown that they can be a successful side on the road and will be on a high after their big victory last weekend. They have a strong running midfield and some quality players that aren't afraid of going in hard on the ball. If they get plenty of possession they will be hard to stop, but it should be a crackerjack contest.
The wide open spaces of the CWAFL's biggest venue, North Parkes Oval, is the setting for the Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons clash and the Panthers will be looking to use their home ground advantage to apply pressure to a very strong Demons outfit.
"We're looking to be competitive," says Panthers' coach Harvey McRea. "We had a pretty good look at them last weekend. We'll be playing a running style of game and they'll have to adapt to our game."
McRea believes that the home ground advantage is worth three or four goals to the Panthers, who will be fielding a full strength side this weekend.
The Demons will be looking to repreat their success from last year when they swept all before them. They have a good squad that is strong right across the ground and will ensure that this will be a close contest.
First Grade starts at 2pm.
The Mudgee Black Swans make their first grade debut this weekend when they take on the Orange Tigers at the Mudgee Sports Ground at 2pm this Saturday. The Black Swans are making a big step up this year and will need to be at their best against a Tigers outfit that will be looking to get off to a good start for this year.
The Katoomba-Lithgow Mountain Lions will be playing on a trial basis in the CWAFL this year and this weekend they are taking on the Bathurst Eagles at Katoomba Falls Reserve, which - apart from being the newest - is the highest venue for Australian Football in the country. A big day is planned by the Mountain Lions with First Grade starting at 2pm. An under-17's curtain raiser will start at 12 noon.
ENDS
[For Sports Details:]
Central West Australian Football league Round One
First Grade 2pm (unless otherwise stated)
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval (Umpires: Pat Clowry Chris Coy)
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground (Umpires: Wade Smith Adrian Charlesworth)
CSU Bulldogs v Cowra Blues at George Park, Bathurst (1pm) (Umpires: Daryl O'Brien David Vosnakes)
Reserve Grade 12.45pm
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval (Umpires: Rob Jay S Menzies)
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground (Umpires: Wade Smith I Keans)
Under 17s 11am
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval (Umpires: Rob Jay D Brown)
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground Peter Delaney I Keans
Under 14s 9.30am
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground
Round 1 - Saturday, 12 April 2003
CENTRAL WEST AFL SEASON STARTS THIS SATURDAY
Round One of the Central West Australian Football League is on this Saturday with three big games being held in first grade.
Last weekend saw the successful CWAFL Lightning Premiership pre-season competition and the two finalists, Cowra and Charles Sturt University meet this Saturday at George Park, Bathurst with the game starting at 1pm. The Cowra Blues took the honours in the Lightning Premiership, walking away with $2000 prizemoney, but runners up Charles Sturt University Bulldogs are keen to make amends.
"We're hungry for it," said Tom Balchin from the Bulldogs, who believes that this weekend's CSU side will be a stronger outfit than the one that made it to the final of the pre-season competition.
For their part the Cowra Blues have already shown that they can be a successful side on the road and will be on a high after their big victory last weekend. They have a strong running midfield and some quality players that aren't afraid of going in hard on the ball. If they get plenty of possession they will be hard to stop, but it should be a crackerjack contest.
The wide open spaces of the CWAFL's biggest venue, North Parkes Oval, is the setting for the Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons clash and the Panthers will be looking to use their home ground advantage to apply pressure to a very strong Demons outfit.
"We're looking to be competitive," says Panthers' coach Harvey McRea. "We had a pretty good look at them last weekend. We'll be playing a running style of game and they'll have to adapt to our game."
McRea believes that the home ground advantage is worth three or four goals to the Panthers, who will be fielding a full strength side this weekend.
The Demons will be looking to repreat their success from last year when they swept all before them. They have a good squad that is strong right across the ground and will ensure that this will be a close contest.
First Grade starts at 2pm.
The Mudgee Black Swans make their first grade debut this weekend when they take on the Orange Tigers at the Mudgee Sports Ground at 2pm this Saturday. The Black Swans are making a big step up this year and will need to be at their best against a Tigers outfit that will be looking to get off to a good start for this year.
The Katoomba-Lithgow Mountain Lions will be playing on a trial basis in the CWAFL this year and this weekend they are taking on the Bathurst Eagles at Katoomba Falls Reserve, which - apart from being the newest - is the highest venue for Australian Football in the country. A big day is planned by the Mountain Lions with First Grade starting at 2pm. An under-17's curtain raiser will start at 12 noon.
ENDS
[For Sports Details:]
Central West Australian Football league Round One
First Grade 2pm (unless otherwise stated)
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval (Umpires: Pat Clowry Chris Coy)
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground (Umpires: Wade Smith Adrian Charlesworth)
CSU Bulldogs v Cowra Blues at George Park, Bathurst (1pm) (Umpires: Daryl O'Brien David Vosnakes)
Reserve Grade 12.45pm
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval (Umpires: Rob Jay S Menzies)
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground (Umpires: Wade Smith I Keans)
Under 17s 11am
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval (Umpires: Rob Jay D Brown)
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground Peter Delaney I Keans
Under 14s 9.30am
Parkes Panthers v Dubbo Demons at North Parkes Oval
Mudgee Black Swans v Orange Tigers at Mudgee Sports Ground