WILSTON GRANGE v. UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Wilston Grange 5.0, 8.6, 13.8, 19.10 (124)
University of Queensland 1.2, 1.3, 2.6, 3.9 (27)
Wilston Grange has a love affair with Friday night footy.
Last year, it was a 109-point win over Sandgate, this year, a 97-point win over UQ.
The score line was a blow out in this one, but the first half was more competitive than it suggests.
Yes, Wilston Grange was still the dominant team, but it was UQ’s turnovers that were the biggest differential in the game.
In the second half, instead of letting the game play out and cruising home to a six-goal win, the Gorillas came out on a mission.
They put the foot on the Red Lions throat, were relentless with their attack on the ball, and they spread from the stoppages right until the final siren.
Scott Waters had the tagging job on George Hannaford, and did it well, and their young guns up forward had a day out.
Lliam Molan and Lenny Christie, both still eligible for Under 18’s, bagged 10 between them. Not a bad night out.
Wilston Grange loves the yellow footy.
Coaches thoughts:
Matt Trewhella – Wilston Grange
“Around the ground we were better. We had a few debutants today, and our senior guys were able to protect those guys, and play in positions where they could play their own game.
“Even though we were up by a bit at half time, we weren’t 100 per cent happy, so what was pleasing was how we responded in the second half.
“Last week was embarrassing, so we really needed to make amends, and get a bit of respect back in the group, and that was a step in the right direction.”
John Tootell – UQ
“We did okay in the circumstances. We had a few blokes out, and won our fair share of the contested ball. Our attack was good but we just didn’t have anything up forward to hurt them on the scoreboard.
“As soon as we got it, we just turned it over, so really our skills just let us down, and that’s something that we need to work on.
“They are a good side, they set up well, and beat us on the outside well. They hit their small kicks and we missed them, which was the most disappointing part.”
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN v. SURFERS PARADISE
Palm Beach Currumbin 4.1, 10.3, 16.7, 20.10 (130)
Surfers Paradise 1.4, 6.10, 8.10, 10.13 (73)
Palm Beach has put the disappointment of last week’s loss behind them, to move to 2-1 in 2016.
The Lions made Salk Oval look like the MCG in the second half. They opened up the space, they linked up well, and they hit up their forwards lace out.
You wouldn’t have known they were playing on a bullring.
Stubbs kicked six in his first game of the year, and Jarryd Douglas’ pressure around the footy was immense.
The skipper, Jesse Derick, in game 101 for the Lions, was also excellent down back.
Although they were 10-goal winners, Palm Beach probably should have been behind at the main break.
Surfers Paradise were the better team in the first half, they just couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities in front of the sticks.
Pope was back to his best, hitting the scoreboard as well, and Danny Green was a handful as usual.
Last week hurt the Lions, they came out with purpose, and made sure they sent a statement in the second half.
2016 looks bright for them.
Coaches thoughts:
Chad Owens – Palm Beach
“We had a really good second half, we really hit our straps. They probably should have been up at half time. We made a lot of mistakes with the ball and looked nervous.
“We were hurting ourselves with not hitting our targets, but once we did that, the game really opened up for us.
“We are stoked to be 2-1, ideally it would be 3-0, but more wins in losses is where you want to be, especially early. We are starting to gel more as a team, and work out each others games.”
Peter Young – Surfers Paradise
“They were really good after time. We were on top up until half time, just not on the scoreboard. Our tackling was excellent, and our pressure was good.
“Then we fell away. I think in the last quarter we only had nine tackles, so our pressure dropped right off.
“We struggled to contain their forwards late. We were really happy with the first half, with the endeavor, it’s just about finding that for four quarters now.”
SANDGATE v. WESTERN MAGPIES
Western Magpies 2.1, 6.3, 8.5, 9.8 (62)
Sandgate 3.2, 5.5, 5.7, 7.11 (53)
Brutal. The best way to describe the contest around the ball in this one.
It wasn’t the prettiest game, you might not be showing it in the end of year highlights reel, but it was 44 blokes cracking in every time that ball was thrown up.
After two disappointing weeks, Sandgate needed to show what they were about this week.
While they didn’t get the win, they took it right to the Magpies, with the game in the balance until the death.
Luke Mitchell, who played down back, and Cal Carseldine were supreme around the contest all afternoon for the Magpies.
Connor Stackelberg went down back for the Hawks yesterday, and played superbly. He was supported well by Ainsworth and Grey.
The Magpies won ugly yesterday; a very important thing to do in the overall picture, but Sandgate showed us they are not to be taken lightly.
Coaches thoughts:
Graham Adams – Sandgate
“We were really pleased with how we played yesterday. Against a good side, we were in it all day, but just couldn’t capitalise on those half chances in the game.
“I think our use of the ball was much better, we improved heaps in that area. In general, we competed at every contest so much better.
“It was pretty physical, which was always going to be the case, it really could have gone either way.”
Glenn Humphrey – Western Magpies
“It was a scrappy contested football game, where neither side really got any flow going.
“It was a struggle for most of the day. We are happy to win ugly, but if it was any uglier I wouldn’t date it.
“The important thing is we got the four points on the board, and we will take a few things out of the game in terms of structures, some things we didn’t do well, and some things we did.”
BROADBEACH v. MT GRAVATT
Mt Gravatt 3.1, 5.6, 9.11, 13.18 (96)
Broadbeach 5.2, 7.3, 8.6, 9.9 (63)
Two outside teams, two lightning quick midfields, a lot of players who do the flashy stuff really well; should mean this was decided on the wing, right?
Wrong.
This game was determined at the stoppages, where Mt Gravatt was able to get on top late.
The score line would suggest they were comfortable winners, but that is far from the case.
Broadbeach jumped out of the blocks the better. They were using the space, and converting on their forward entries.
Darcy Dienjes is in a rich vein of form lately. He was the catalyst to their half time lead through the middle.
Even at the last change, Mt Gravatt was 11-points up, but anything could have happened.
The Vultures stepped up late though. They won the important clearances, and they spread from the contest better.
Joe Murphy is starting to run into his best form since his return, Estall kept getting in good spots, and Jamieson was flawless down back.
They kicked four last quarter goals to one in the last, including two in the last few minutes, to ensure they go 3-0.
If you are not taking Mt Gravatt seriously yet, you might want to.
Coaches thoughts:
Brett Andrews – Broadbeach
“It was a brutal encounter. It was hot in the contest.
“We played a really good first half, we just got beaten around the stoppages, and gave away a couple of crucial free kicks at important times.
“They were just a bit more polished, and ran out the game better than us.”
Brad Pollock – Mt Gravatt
“It wasn’t the easiest of days, it was a dog fight for three quarters, but we eventually hit the front and it opened up for us in the fourth quarter.
“Broadbeach made it really hard, they played some good footy early in the game, and made our boys work hard to stay in the game.
“They have got a lot of young blokes, our experienced guys stuck with the process and tide started to turn. We started wining the stoppages and probably got them on the spread a bit better.”
LABRADOR v. MORNINGSIDE
Morningside 5.3, 11.6, 13.13, 17.17 (119)
Labrador 3.3, 7.5, 13.6, 15.8 (98)
I think we have a new premiership favourite.
The Panthers are back in town. For the first time since 2014, they have knocked off the Tigers, and despite a scare late in the third quarter, they powered home to do it.
They controlled the midfield, they spread the goal-kicking load, and they played with intent.
Because these sides are two of the most highly skilled teams in the league, the contest was wide open and free flowing.
The Panthers were zipping the ball around by foot, hitting targets and taking the game on early.
It meant they had a 25-point half time lead, and they looked in control.
The Tigers came out of the sheds at half time breathing fire though; on the day they unfurled their premiership flag, they definitely weren’t going to roll over.
Their midfield stepped up a gear in the third term, and Retzlaff became a major influence across half-forward.
When the siren went for the last break, it was a five-point ball game, and the contest was on.
Morningside weathered the storm though. Labrador had spent their petrol tickets getting close, and the Panthers found their second wind.
Abey kicked two very important goals early, and Kinch and Pendlebury finished the job late.
They Panthers remain undefeated, and the champs were sent to lick their wounds at 1-2.
This rivalry went to another level today.
Coaches thoughts:
Perry Meka – Labrador
“Similar to round 1, we just didn’t start again. We have got to get things right early, we just give oppositions a start and spend the rest of the day chasing.
“Yes, we chased them down, but good sides like that don’t let that slip. I like the way they play, they are a good side.
“We missed a few early shots which didn’t help, but we were spent by the last quarter.
“We have got a bit to work on, but we will be right.
Matt Walder – Morningside
“Our pressure around the ball was excellent, our ball use going forward was even better, which gave ourselves a good break going forward.
“To their credit they came back at us after half time, and probably had control of the game for a while, but we were still holding sway. Good sides don’t go away, but we were able to be calm and complete the deal.”
“It’s very good to get away with a win down there though, but it’s a very long season.”
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
