Well, after long last, it's FINALLY here again...FOOTY SEASON!!! After a less than stellar finish to the 2010 season, the Hamilton Wildcats have been toiling away all winter in the den, adding several crucial peices to the puzzle in search for our 1st OAFL Premiereship in Club history. The 'Cats will take their first step towards the ultimate goal of winning a Championship in 2011 this weekend in Guelph, when they face the always tough Toronto Rebels.
Round #1: HAMILTON WILDCATS (NR) v TORONTO REBELS (NR)
Venue: Margaret Green Park, Guelph (10:15am start)
Map/Directions: https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=1-7394-110437-0-0&sID=160735
2010 OAFL Record: Hamilton Wildcats (4-9), Toronto Rebels (3-10) - Wildcats won season series (1-0).
Key Additions: New Head Coach for both Clubs; Matt Lowry (Hamilton) & Brendan Craighill (Rebels).
HAMILTON Strengths: Well, being that Hamilton is "Steeltown", there's no shortness of toughness here. Just as their Round #1 opponents, Hamilton is also blessed with good size around the ground, and boast one of the league's best interchange of ruckmen Paul Lawson (6'7"), 2nd year 'Cat Ed Debruin (6'5") & versitile Daniel Crouch (6'4"). Both Clubs play a similar style of football, hard to the footy with good run and a very workman like apporach to the game. The 'Catters definitely don't mind mixing it up or getting dirty, and play a solid game in the wet. Hamilton has seen their fair share of talented players dawn the "yellow & black" and the additions of Brendon Major, twin brothers Connor & Mitch Lowry, as well as a solid core of new Canadians (Justin Hyde, Alex Pawliwec, Sean DiRago, Drew Dupras) could see the Wildcats flipping their (4-9) 2010 record into a (9-4) mark in 2011!!! Lots of excitement in Wildcatland, and should be a great match-up in Round #1 versus a very balanced Toronto Rebels squad.
REBELS Strengths: Great running team with good size down the spine of the oval. Lots of experience in their backline, with talented Canadians Sean Duffy & Nic P (over 300 games combined) & great speed on the wings/center with Cam Stark, Fabs & Tony Tam always seeming to show-up versus the Wildcats. The biggest worry versus a team like the Rebels is always the unknown. As one of the more humble teams in the OAFL, noone every knows what's going down in Rebel-land, and i'm sure they like it that way. After another rebuilding season for the Rebs in '10, they might just be ready to put themselves back on the OAFL map at the Wildcats expense in Round #1.
Round #1 Prediction: Hamilton Wildcats def. Toronto Rebels 60-45
C'arn the WILDCATS!!!
Last Modified on 05/05/2011 00:37