MATCH OF THE ROUND
Morningside vs. Broadbeach
Saturday June 18, 2:00pm, Jack Esplen Oval
LIVE BLOG FROM 1:45pm
I wouldn’t say hostile, but it’s certainly going to be a daunting environment for Broadbeach to walk into tomorrow.
Morningside will be celebrating Homecoming day, and Jack Esplen Oval is going to be busier than Times Square on New Years Eve.
The 19th man will be in full force, and the Panthers will be in their throwback black and white playing strip, but lets focus on the footy for a minute.
Barring a first quarter snooze last week, Morningside have been ruthless last two games.
But then again, Broadbeach had the biggest win of the season last week over UQ.
Both have their tails up, and rightfully so, so the first 30 minutes of football is going to be very interesting.
The biggest thing Broadbeach were able to do last week was have their backman attack.
Quick was one of the best on ground, but will have to do a job on Abey this week, so expect him to stay at home a bit more.
Upton’s run will be important, and Palmer has a big job to do against Mollison in the ruck.
Both are going to look to get on top in the contested ball, but then use the runners out wide, so the battle of controlling the pace of the game become A1 in terms of priorities.
Morningside are missing Russ, but the Cats will be without Kerr, who kicked seven last week.
It’s a big day for Morningside as a whole. I don’t think their senior heads on field will let this one slip.
Where it will be won: tempo
Labrador vs. Wilston Grange
Saturday June 18, 2:00pm, Cooke-Murphy Oval
Getting a read on Grange at the moment is harder than reading a book in the dark.
There best is blistering, but without a few key players, they fall away pretty quickly.
What we do know is that, while Labrador didn’t get the four-points last week, they are a better team now than they were in round one.
Grange’s best now is also better than round 1 though.
They both play very similar brands of football, which is why Grange matchup well against them.
They will both pride themselves on winning the tight stuff, but both have the outside leg speed to hurt the opposition.
Foot skills are going to come into it in a big way. It will be about who can hit targets the best under pressure.
Eaton will go to Retzlaff, who will look to continue his second half work from last week, which leaves Christie or Richardson on Baxter. That’s a red alert, and probably the game breaker in terms of matchups.
Bantoft on Trewhella up the other end will be as tough of a one-on-one as it gets. No one will give an inch.
No Leong hurts the Gorillas, because he has been a barometer, but Nixon-Smith looks in real good touch at the moment.
Labrador, on the home deck should win this… but I also thought that in round 1.
Where this will be won: handling opposition pressure.
Sandgate vs. Surfers Paradise
Saturday June 18, 2:00pm, Lemke Rd
These two teams need to rebound quicker than Taylor Swift does after a breakup.
It’s be a wretched couple of games for both clubs; two rounds that belong very deep in the memory bank.
The only way to get over them though is to have a win, or at least play four quarters of the footy they set out to play.
The Hawks have to make the Demons accountable on defensive transition, but to do that, they need to look after the pill.
Hitting targets going forward will be essential. If they hand the ball to Surfers any where near the half-forward line they will get torched on the spread.
For Surfers, it’s about finding their rhythm again. When they were the world beaters of the QAFL a few weeks ago, they were winning the contested ball, loading up from the backline, and charging at opposition defenses like they were trying to claim their castle back.
Overington had a heap of it last week, so will be a real shut down focus for the Demons. If he starts to get on top, look for a contested bull like Pope or Cassidy Haberfield to go line up next to him.
Surfers’ midfield need to get back to their best this week. Woolford, Fraser, Haberifeld’s, Pope, it’s going to start with them.
This one is going to be fierce in the middle.
Where it will be won: link up work
UQ vs. Palm Beach Currumbin
Saturday June 18, 2:00pm, Field 9 St Lucia
This looks like a modern day David vs. Goliath battle.
1 vs. 10, Palm Beach coming off an important win, while UQ copped a hiding.
But there’s a bit more to it than that.
UQ this week get back Macanawai, Milford, Powyer and a few others. They were three of 10 missing from the team last week.
I challenge you to take 10 players out of any QAFL team and see how they go… actually, ask Labrador earlier in the year.
While they were missing, they can’t play like they did last week, or else Palm Beach will put them to the sword.
Usually Field 9 is a massive advantage for the Red Lions, but you only have to look at Palm Beach’s record at home this year to know that they love they tight grounds.
For those playing at home, they haven’t lost there yet.
Palm Beach is going to be tough to beat this week, very tough, but never say never.
They have had patches in most games where teams have come back at them, so UQ need to capitalise if that comes about.
The Lions will use their foot skills, which are the best in the competition, to open this up.
Chisholm is a jet, Woolley can turn a game on its head, and Jarryd Douglas looks unstoppable playing any role in their forward line.
They will probably send Powyer to him, maybe Ablett will provide a chop out, but he is good in the air, and lightning on the deck.
Where it will be won: the midfield.
Western Magpies vs. Mt Gravatt
Saturday June 18, 2:00pm, Chelmer
Two weeks ago this would have been the easiest game of the round to tip. Now it is a genuine toss of the coin… and it’s giving me a headache.
The Western Magpies are back in town, and Mt Gravatt are the walking wounded after last week.
Without Joe Murphy and Todd Carbone, who both tweaked hammies in the draw last week, their midfield comes back to the field.
The Hamill brothers have been excellent, but their workloads just doubled.
Tronc and Hart will go to Staker and Dickfos, but it will be as much about midfield pressure stopping the delivery to them, that the one-on-ones themselves.
Beer will have his work cut out in the ruck with Smith, but he has the cattle at his feet to at least even the contest.
If the pill gets out wide, Mt Gravatt has the leg speed, but if it’s a slow game, or played in the corridor, the Magpies’ will be too strong, and too clean.
Where it will be won: the location of the ball
MILESTONES
This Saturday, Mat Clarke will play game 200 for the Labrador Football Club. You’d struggle to find more loyal people in the QAFL. Check out the spring chicken in this photo.
150-year fact – Queensland Football Forensics
www.q150.net.au
The Surfers Paradise club formed in 1962, competing only at junior level in 1962 and 1963. On 12th April 1964 the Demons played their first game at senior level, scoring a big win at home over Labrador, 17-20 (122) to 7-13 (55). Best for the Demons were Leo Camm, K. McDonald, B. Thomas and K. Whitehead. Here’s an article including a write-up on the game from the
South Coast Bulletin.
Match Replays
Remember, 24 hours after the game, match replays will be available to view HERE. No excuses not to be all over the ins and outs of the QAFL in 2016.
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
