Wilston Grange vs. UQ
Friday April 15, 8:00pm, Bendigo Bank Oval
Friday night footy is back with a bang, with the all-new Bendigo Bank Oval to be lit up tonight.
Both of these teams were outplayed last week. Both will back their kids to bounce back.
For Grange, the injection of Trewhella and McIvor will straighten them up, but they need to get back to winning the footy in the slow parts.
They had an off day last week … a bit flat after such a big opening round, but the home crowd tonight getting behind them will surely spark them up.
Even though UQ are sitting at 0-2, in parts they have shown what they are capable of, and that game style will match it with anyone.
Now it’s about putting that together for four quarters. The QAFL is so even this year, that if you are not on for the full 120 minutes, you’ll have your work cut out to get the four points.
It will be very interesting to watch Hannaford and D’Roza square off against the more senior bodies of Brittain and Kettle. The youngsters are more than capable of putting on a clinic in there.
Where it will be won: spread
Broadbeach vs. Mt Gravatt
Saturday April 16, 2:00pm, Ord Minnett Oval
I hope both these teams are planning on smashing a few bananas tonight and loading up on potassium tablets, because this is going to be as quick as it gets.
Broadbeach and Mt Gravatt both love to use the space and go for a gallop, and Boradbeach’s home deck is going to be more than accommodating to that game style.
For the first time since 2011, Mt Gravatt started the year with two wins, and they don’t have any plans on stopping.
Last week could have been a bloodbath early if they kicked straight, something that will be a real focus from the opening bounce.
Broadbeach coach Brett Andrews said after week 1 that they were two weeks away from being where they wanted to be, which means this week is the time to shine.
It’s going to be an exhilarating contest, I feel tired just thinking about it already.
Carbone vs. Pantic, Quick playing on Crawley and Smith, there are 50/50 match-ups all over the ground.
This will be a Saturday afternoon blockbuster; both teams could easily kick 20 goals.
Where it will be won: Who used the space better
Palm Beach Currumbin vs. Surfers Paradise
Saturday April 15, 1:30pm, Salk Oval
Both of these teams know all too well how important these early wins are in the year, neither can afford to fall behind in the win-loss ledger.
Why? Ask them what they were doing when finals were on last year; there’s your motivation.
But two doesn’t go into one, which means both teams will empty the petrol tank this week to get the win.
Palm Beach was oh so close to knocking off Morningisde last week. While the game was as tight as a train in peak hour, it was the start of the second quarter that proved the difference.
If they eradicate that 15 minutes where they were a bit panicky, and torched the footy, they win that game.
That’ll be the focus this week, taking what they did in the second half, and producing it all afternoon.
After such a bright start for Surfers last week, they fell away after quarter time.
They went away from what they did in week one, and it didn’t sit well with them.
Expect the midfield group to take responsibility of that, and come out breathing fire this week.
From the first bounce, the battle between Thynne, Woolley and Grant, against Haberfield, Pope and Trevena will be on like donkey kong.
Where it will be won: inside
Sandgate vs. Western Magpies
Saturday April 16, 2:00pm, Lemke Rd
There are three certainties in life; death, taxes and that this game will be ferocious around the footy.
The wheels hadn’t fallen off the bus down at the nest after one loss, but last week the nuts were definitely tightened back up.
0-2 would have been a long way back for a team with top three aspirations.
The regained their mojo, now they have to keep that swagger up for the rest of the year by doing what they do best, controlling the stoppages.
For Sandgate, it’s not going to take much for them to get out of this slump.
The signs are there, take the last quarter of last week for example, it’s just about getting a run on for 10-15 minutes, hitting the scoreboard, and going from there.
Not having Overington is a massive loss against the Magpies midfield, but that loss comes another opportunity for a youngster to step up to the plate, that’s how gems are uncovered.
Playing at Lemke Road means both teams have the opportunity to put a big score on the board if they control the middle, use the space and slingshot in.
Don’t be surprised if this one goes down to the wire.
Where it will be won: the stoppages
Labrador vs. Morningside
Sunday April 17, 2:00pm, Cooke-Murphy Oval
It’s the game we have waited just over six months for, the grand final rematch.
The script has been written perfectly as well. Morningside are undefeated, coming off the back of a gutsy win over Palm Beach, and the champs bounced back in emphatic fashion last week.
So what will be different? Personnel
Despite both coaches not being in charge on the last Saturday in September in 2015, that doesn’t mean it will look aesthetically much different.
The key for Morningside will still be the link up work from the back line, and how they use the footy going inside 50. When it was clean last week, they were dominant, when they missed targets, they were chopped up on the rebound.
Matt Logan, who didn’t play in last years decider, was super last week, and will need to be up again through the stoppages. Having Miueller back at centre half-forward will also be a bonus this week.
For the Tigers, it starts in the middle. Yes their big blokes like Retzlaff and Baxter will both have to kick a few again, but getting it in there will be key.
The run starts with Hicks, Davey and Clarke, if they are on top, Labrdor win.
Last year’s game came down to the last minute, lets hope history repeats.
Where it will be won: the centre-clearances
QAFF 150 Year Fact: Norm Reidy
www.q150.net.au
Norm Reidy had two years at Mayne before becoming Sandgate’s captain-coach
In 1953. He guided the Hawks to their first flag in 1956, beating Windsor by ten points in the Grand Final. The following year Sandgate came up against Coorparoo in the decider at Perry Park. Coorparoo came from the
clouds to hit the lead in the final quarter before Reidy, with a fantastic kick over his head, scored the goal that gave Sandgate their second premiership with a margin of two points.
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
