MATCH OF THE ROUND
WILSTON GRANGE vs. SANDGATE
Friday April 24, 8:00pm PBI Oval
Live blog from 7:30pm
LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ6Dgsjel10
Sandgate beat some quality opposition last week to get on the board, and this week, the task doesn’t get any easier.
They come up against a Wilston Grange team who really challenged Morningside in patches last week.
Both teams sit 1-1, and will be very eager to head into round four with their win loss ratio in the positive.
Wilston Grange coach Matt Trewhella is expecting a ferocious battle for four quarters, knowing they must crack in all night to be in the game late.
“I don’t think the game will be won early, I think as long as we are in the contest early, and adapt to the conditions like last year we are a chance,” Trewhella said.
“We know they aren’t going to go away at any stage.
“As long as we are physical at the contest for four quarters, and make sure that we take out opportunities, we should be in it at the end.”
After their win last week, Trewhella knows he is up against some stiff opposition.
“We definitely won’t be taking them lightly, Bombers got them all playing their rolls and playing them really well,” he said.
Expected to be played out in front of a huge crowd as well as streamed over the web, both coaches are placing a huge emphasis on putting on a good show tonight.
“Its very exciting, hopefully we will see the better players rise to the top and we can put on a show for the QAFL,” Trewhella said.
Sandgate coach Graham Adams agreed.
“Its very important to put on a good show. I think so far we have showed people that we have come a long way, and now we just want to keep going ahead with what we have done so far,” Adams said.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, that’s the approach Adams will be taking into tonight’s game.
“We just have to do exactly what we have been doing, and play very similar footy,” he said.
“Yet again, we will be in it for a long time, I know we will.”
Friday night footy is back this week, and it’s set to be a beauty.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – RD 3 – WILSTON GRANGE VS SANDGATE
Broadbeach vs. Western Magpies
Saturday April 25, 2:00pm – H&A Oval
There are few certainties in life, but what you can guarantee this week is a fierce contest between two teams who pride themselves on their contested ball.
Broadbeach got their season rolling last week with a one-point win over a fast finishing Mt Gravatt.
They played some real good footy early, but coach Wayne Petterd was unhappy with how they came home.
“Last week was a bit of a confidence booster, but we were a little bit disappointed with how we finished off after a good start,” Petterd said.
“That’s something we need to work on, maintaining good footy for four quarters not two.”
Despite the Magpies suffering a heavy loss at the hands of Labrador last week, Petterd won’t be taking them lightly.
“They will be jumping out of the box, they might be 0-2 but they have played probably the two best sides in Morningside and Labrador,” he said.
“They are going to be very desperate this week, we are expecting a real tight contest.”
As to how to beat them, he kept it pretty simple.
“You’ve just got to get in first. Contested work is one of our strengths as well, I rate that part of the game, the part I don’t rate is the ball usage and ball control, but that will come,” Petterd said.
Western Magpies coach Glenn Humphrey believes hard work will see them turn last week around.
“It’s about our work-rate, making sure we come out mentally prepared to play a game of football and making sure we are there to play four quarters of football,” Humphrey said.
He also acknowledge where the game will be won, the middle.
“I think it will be won in the contested ball, whoever wins it will probably win the game of footy,” he said.
Despite last week, the mood around the club hasn’t dropped.
“They boys are all still pretty good, we have got several players back in, there is a lot of enthusiasm around the club which is good,” Humphrey said.
“Luke Scott will be playing his first game for the club this year and Adam Maricic is back from under 18 duties.”
Broadbeach will go in favorites, but beware the wounded.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – RD 3 – BROADBEACH VS WESTERN MAGPIES
Mt Gravatt vs. Palm Beach Currumbin
Saturday April 25, 2:00pm Dittmer Park
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from disappointing losses last week, and they will both try to achieve it one way, run.
Mt Gravatt got agonisingly close to overrunning Broadbeach last week, but you can’t play a half of footy and expect to win.
“The boys have realised that we had a poor start last week and we can’t afford to do that,” coach Brad Pollock said.
“They learnt a few things like when the game gets tight you have got to make better decisions.”
Fixing that poor start is top of the agenda this week for the Vultures.
“It’s definitely been a focus, we will be quite conscious of having a good start and concentrating on the things that need to be done early in the game,” he said.
He has no doubts on where the game will be won.
“Palmy have got some quality running players, so we need to be conscious of that, but having said that we need to play our style of game, which will be a running style as well, so it should be an entertaining game,” Pollock said.
They will have to do it without Adam Bryne, who’s season looks in doubt with an ankle injury, Andrew Scott and Daniel Balm, but welcome back Chris Murphy and Matthew Johnson.
Palm Beach Currumbin were extremely disappointed with their performance against Sandgate last Sunday, but Chad Owens said the boys have responded well.
“It’s been good this week. They didn’t take the loss very well, as to be expected, but they have trained well this week,” Owens said.
“Hopefully we can rebound and get back on the winners board.”
He knows that Mt Gravatt will try and outrun them; so stopping that will be one of the keys.
“We want to defend first, that’s been our priority and then set up our attack from there,” he said.
“For us this week we have to execute our skills, if we can do that then our running game will take care of itself.
“They will be fast, expect them to be hard, they are on the rebound like us so expect it to be a pretty tough game.”
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – RD 3 – MT GRAVATT VS PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN
UQ vs. Morningside
Saturday April 25, 2:00pm – Oval 7 St Lucia
Morningside have got the job done so far this year without setting the world on fire.
This week, coach David Lake wants them to move on from last year, pin the ears back, and make a statement.
“We had a really good pre-season where we were really up and about, but I think we have been a little bit flat the last two weeks,” Lake said.
“At times I think we have played like a team coming off the back of a premiership, it’s now time to up the ante and chase the next one, eyes forward.”
They take on UQ this week in the inaugural ‘Cross River Cup,’ set up to recognise the connection between the two clubs.
“It was about creating something that we could compete for, respect the people that are in the places they are, and still get to chirp it each other a little bit,’ he said.
Off the back of a thrilling one point win over Surfers Paradise, there’s no doubt UQ will be up and about.
Lake knows this, but is confident their style of play will hold up.
“They will try a few things that will challenge us, we will go about our business and we have got our process, but I will be interested to see what they bring to the table,” Lake said.
After showing major improvement over summer, UQ were rewarded last week.
“We would have been disappointed if we lost last week, because we thought we were better for the majority of the day,” senior assistant Tim MacKinley said.
“I think the boys have good belief in themselves, it’s a confidence boost and we needed to reward ourselves from what’s been a good pre-season.”
They will go into this week with nothing to lose.
“We have prepared with a take the game on mentality. We want to take it up to them and be a little bit more attacking instead of trying to stop them, we want to try and win the game,” he said.
“We will just take them on across the ground, we look forward to the challenge.”
MacKinley agreed with Lake that it’s good to acknowledge the connection between the two clubs.
“Both clubs have been really responsive, we have had some good feedback, and we are really looking forward to playing off for the cup,” MacKinley said.
Morningside will be extremely difficult to beat, but a team who plays with nothing to lose is always dangerous.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – RD 3 – UNI OF QLD VS MORNINGSIDE
Surfers Paradise vs. Labrador
Sunday April 26, 2:00pm – Sir Bruce Small Park
It’s pretty difficult to improve a side that won by over 100 points last week, but adding Josh Fraser and Matthew Lapin to the lineup will do it.
Labrador fans will get their first look at the ex-AFL players in Tigers colours this weekend.
Jarrod Field has taken over the coaching reigns from Steve Daniel for this weekend, and is very excited the two were available to be picked.
“Its great for the group to be able to bring in that much AFL experience,” Field said
“We aren’t expecting miracles, but just hoping that they play the role and hit the scoreboard for us.”
They may have just come off a very good win, but recent memories mean they won’t be getting ahead of themselves.
“We only have to think back 12 months when we played them at this ground. They gave us a hiding so that’s the motivation for Sunday,” he said.
They are expecting a quick and eager Demons side, but Fields is backing in their own structures to counter Surfers Paradise’s run.
“They will have a crack, they are honest. They are fairly young but we know that they are going to crack in,” Field said.
“We played a fair bit through the corridor last week but we have some speed on the outside too. Their run doesn’t concern us greatly because we have got some quick players who can do some damage on the outside as well.”
The Demons went down to UQ last week by a point; left ruing missed opportunities in front of goal.
They come up against the one of the biggest tests in QAFL footy this week, but coach Peter Young believes if they get the ball out wide, they are a real show.
“They are a proven side, and are leading the way this year. They are going to try to stretch us up forward so we have got to get it to ground and use our runners,” Young said.
“If we can use the footy well, put some scoreboard pressure on early, the boys can win the game of footy.”
With a few boys missing this week, Young has put the heat on the middle to senior age players to step up.
“I’m not interested in excuses, we want to see who can play senior footy,” he said.
“We have got 10-12 players aged between 24-27, and they are the blokes who have to stand up and show they want to play good footy for the Demons.”
If they are going to make a stand, this week is certainly the week.
FOOTY RECORD: QAFL RECORD – RD 3 – SURFERS PARADISE VS LABRADOR
By Andrew Wiles – @andrewjwiles
