AFL champions Koboni to test West Eagles premiership dream

THE Maritime West Eagles’ Port Moresby Esi Loan AFL Premiership credentials will be tested when they take on reigning champions Concept Koboni at the Colts Oval tomorrow.
The unbeaten Eagles beat the Demons 67-46 in their last encounter over a month ago and they will be aiming to repeat the same dosage on the title holders.
The Eagles appear to be a well-knitted outfit with topline players slotted in key positions along the corridor to the goalmouth.
They have fullback Alois Mondo, centre-half-back Lindon Mondo, centreman Greg Ekari, centre-half-forward Dunstall Kase, full-forward Danny Kaile and captain Jeffery Namete leading their charges.
Feeding off the crumbs will be Patrick Miller, Naso Kabura, Dominic Meli, John James Lavai and Ezekiel Sei in the backline with Ben Tirang, Camillo Ekari and Jayden Advent on the wing.
Mathew Pulah Jr, Jeremy Kase, Damien Kani, Rex Peregua, Mackenzie Kamang and Raymond Asaio will feed off the ball distribution up front.
The eye of the Eagles onslaught will come in the form of their lethal centerline combination comprising ruckman Clyde Pulah, rover Kila Rawali, follower Reagan Naipao and Ekari.
Ekari and Rawali will look to combine well with their elusive runs across the paddock to leave their opponents gasping for air.
Koboni coaches Blacky Brandan, Navu Maha and Jack Bola will have a hard time trying to find the perfect combination to match the Eagles’ roving pair.
The Demons will miss the services of talented centreman Hapeo Bobogi who is on a stint in Brisbane, Australia.
The Demons, however, will be relying on seasoned PNG Mosquitoes players in Brandan Beno, Amua Pirika, Paul Philip, Alphonse Jambarufo, David Topeni and Douglas Lai Jr to use their all-round experience to counter the Eagles onslaught.
Lai Lai, Haksy Ehava, Lokos Zia and Francis Brown will need to step up to deny Rawali and Ekari of any possession.
The Eagles are brilliant aerial players and this is where Demons’ Virgil Evere, Ryan Kororo, Jambarufo and Topeni will be pushed to put effective stoppers and turn defence into attack.
Victory will be on the minds of the Demons after hitting form at the right time with six consecutive wins.
In Sunday’s matches, the Sun City Cats should return to the winning ways at the expense of the Gerehu Magpies. The Dockers should edge out the Gordon Kokofas to atone for last week’s four-point loss to Koboni.
In the women’s matches tomorrow, the Kokofas should have no problem accounting for North Waigani Royals Tigers and Koboni should beat the Magpies.