THE MORNING LINE - ADELAIDE INVITATIONAL

 

The 2019 Adelaide Invitational is the last stop of the Monster Energy Tour and will go down as one of the most significant events of the season. 

With the 2019 PBR Australia Grand Finals on our doorstep, riders will be looking to build some confidence and finish off the regular season with a strong result.

Here are the must-see matchups:

Round 1 Matchups

Lane Mellers on Terms & Conditions (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls):
Terms & Conditions has been ridden three times in his career for scores in the low 80-point range, and that’s where we should see this ride land. Mellers returns home after going 1-for-2 at the 2019 PBR Velocity Tour Finals in Las Vegas and is showing no signs of slowing down. His confidence is high, and with this right-handed spinner under him, he should be able to get his night started right.

Aaron Kleier on Reverend Mr Black (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls):
Kleier has ridden nine of his last eleven bulls on the Monster Energy Tour, and he gets a rematch to start his night here. A fortnight ago in Mildura, the defending champion combined with Reverend Mr Black for 81-points in the opening round. The pair also clashed at this event last year, but Kleier opted to take a re-ride following his 75-point ride. So that makes him 2-for-2, and you would be brave to bet against him making it three-straight.

Will Purcell on Southern Man (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls):
The Victorian has had the hot hand over the past month in bull riding competitions around Australia. His confidence looks sky high, and Southern Man seems a great challenge. The bull likes to leap clear of the chute, faking to the right and turning back to the left. This matchup will play out away from Purcell’s hand, but as long as he doesn’t get caught on his pockets as they leave the chutes, he should be there at the whistle.

Troy Wilkinson on Hit Man (Woodall Rodeo Company):
Hit Man throws a lot at his opponents, but he bucks at a good tempo, and that is why have seen him covered in his last two PBR trips. He fakes left and right before deciding which way to turn, but that doesn’t mean that he is set in that one direction. Wilkinson snapped a long PBR buck off streak last weekend in Wodonga following his aggregate win at the NFR in Warwick, so his confidence will be growing.

 

Round 2 Matchups

Nathan Burtenshaw on Chain Reaction (Woodall Rodeo Company):
Burtenshaw had to withdraw from the Wodonga event last weekend after being injured in his first-round matchup, but this looks a nice bull for him to get the train back on the tracks. We have not seen this bull since March when he was covered in three straight outs by right-handed riders for low 80-point scores. This bull tends to favour a left-handed spin, but his rhythm is outstanding, and the two should combine for a qualified bull ride.

Lane Mellers on Bad Apple (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls):
Mellers and Bad Apple faced off in Bendigo earlier this season with the Mundubbera cowboy coming away with 81.5 points. In the bull’s last two trips, he has turned back to the right, with a late reverse in direction and was ridden for 88.5 and 84.75 points. This looks an excellent opportunity for Mellers to have some fun and post a score into his hand.

Josh Cavanagh on Stir Crazy (John Gill & Sons):
Stir Crazy has been posting outstanding bull scores over the past twelve months, averaging 43.1 points and bucking off his last six riders. Cavanagh was the last of those riders, and he lasted 5.87 seconds aboard the bull in Queanbeyan just a few weeks ago. This bull leaves the chute strong and turns back to the right. The Rockhampton cowboy was extremely disappointed with that buck off, and he will be keen to make amends here.

Lachlan Richardson on Matt Black (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls):
Three right-handed bull riders have been out aboard Matt Black in his PBR career, and all three have made the whistle and posted good scores. This bull produces a consistent trip, turning back sharply to the right with loads of speed in his spin. Richardson covers bulls with this pattern at a very high percentage, and he will start a very short favourite in this matchup.