HOWLONG coach Joel Price has rated CDHBU’s backline the equal of any in the Hume league ahead of Saturday’s clash at Coreen.
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Although the Power are one of four teams yet to record a win, Price said the ladder could be deceiving early in the season.
“I rate their top six or eight players as good as anyone,” Price said.
”They still have a lot of quality.
“I reckon their backline is close to the best in the comp.
“Cooper (Tim), Collins (Mick), Ollington (Andrew) and Howard (Matt) are good players.
“That’s definitely their strength and our forward-line probably hasn’t functioned as well as we would have liked so far especially with Rohan Davies being unavailable after the first two rounds due to work."
While it remains unclear how many matches Davies will play, Howlong has added to its stocks by signing former junior and Rutherglen player Brad Farrugia.
Price said Howlong, who has beaten Holbrook, Henty, Billabong Crows and Lockhart, were keen to go into the inter-league break with a perfect record.
“We are just tracking along and not setting any records,” Price said.
“It’s good to be chalking up the wins though.
“We have been playing a quarter or a half and then switching off at the moment and hopefully this is the week we can put four quarters together and take some momentum into the break.
“I want to go five-zip because we have a big month coming up.”
Howlong take on Murray Magpies, Brock-Burrum, Jindera and Osborne after the inter-league in a stretch which will sort the premiership contenders from the pretenders.
Midfielder Matt McDonald and ruckman Peter Hancock have been dominant for the Spiders and they should get enough ball inside 50 metres to orchestrate a win over CDHBU.
Murray Magpies take on ladder leader Jindera at Urana Road Oval.
The Bulldogs have been the form team of the competition with recruits Sam Myors, Dylan Pettingill and Ryan Speed putting Kerry Bahr’s side in a good position to make another grand final.
Magpies have added Wodonga utility Daniel Sharp to their line-up over the past week.
He played two senior matches for the Bulldogs last season and will help share the workload around the stoppages.
Undefeated Brock-Burrum face their toughest test of the season against Osborne at Burrumbuttock.
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla has picked up former Lavington player Lewis Gardiner ahead of their clash with Lockhart at Lockhart.
Henty should have Holbrook’s measure at Henty and Billabong Crows play host to Culcairn at Oaklands.
