North Wagga ruckman Dave Karlberg can’t wait to renew an old rivalry at McPherson Oval on Saturday, knowing his contest against The Rock-Yerong Creek’s Josh Meiselbach has the potential to make or break the Saints’ season.
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The former Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and Culcairn ruckman has relished a return to the middle after spending last year at full-back.
“I love it, I prefer it actually, getting out of the backline and getting the legs going a bit,” Karlberg said.
“Me and ‘Meisel’ had a few tussles back in the day when he was at Collingullie.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he’s come along.”
Karlberg last week helped put the Saints in control for much of the game against East Wagga-Kooringal when up against arguably the most influential player in the league, Nick Hull.
“I was chomping at it all week – he’s the best ruckman around here – so just to see how I really go against a quality player,” Karlberg said.
“I just thought, this dude’s seven-foot, 120 kilos. Just go back to the old school way of rucking and jump into him and try and nullify the whole contest. It seemed to work for three-quarters then he went down forward and kicked four.”
That was the story of North Wagga’s day and something they can’t afford to do against the Pies. In their last three meetings, they’ve been in the contest but struggled to see it out:
- Rd 4, 2016: held TRYC goal-less for 1st quarter; scores level at half-time; lost by 10
- Qualifying final, 2015: held TRYC goal-less for 2nd quarter; led by 3 points at half-time; lost by 41
- Rd 14, 2015: scores level at three-quarter-time; lost by 31
Two wins outside the five, with consecutive games against TRYC and Coleambally, the Saints desperately need to beat a top three team.
“I reckon it's going to start this week,” Karlberg said.
“In the guts, we’re going to have a bloody tough day with all The Rock’s on-ballers.
“They’re quick, they've got good old heads and they know how to not run as much but be real smart with the ball.
“But hopefully we can get on top of them in the middle with the young, hard, ferocious fellas we’ve got, and hopefully out-body them a lot more around the ground.”
North Wagga coach Kirk Hamblin rates TRYC’s on-ball brigade as the league’s benchmark but said Karlberg’s form in the past fortnight has been exceptional.
“As soon as the ball hits the ground, he’s like another midfielder,” Hamblin said.
The Saints are still cursing lapses against EWK but Hamblin said the positives were pressure and desire.
More of the same is a must if they’re to limit the influence of Andy Carey, who’s kicked 19 goals in their last three meetings.
