COOLANGATTA christen a $450,000 floodlights system for their Gold Coast derby against Burleigh at Len Peak Oval on Friday night (8pm first bounce).
The new lights have been a long time coming, but already have been rated as good as any others on the Gold Coast.
By Terry Wilson
And the Blues are looking to dazzle under the new globes, the occasion coinciding with the club’s Memorial Day, which honours deceased past players, officials and supporters and when a perpetual trophy is awarded to best Coolangatta player on the ground.
The Blues have three changes to the side that lost narrowly to Surfers Paradise last match.
Out are Danny Maxwell, Nathan Millard and John Vogae replaced by defenders Tiernan Carbury and Blake Ebsworth and wingman Sam Fife.
It seems there is a buzz about the new lights, coach Neil Mackay saying numbers at training have been their best for at least four weeks.
“Everyone’s excited about playing under the new lights,” said Mackay.
But rivals Burleigh are out to shrug off some poor form to gatecrash the Coolangatta party.
“At least we’ll be able to see, that’s awesome,” said coach Zane Doubleday, decidedly tongue-in-cheek in a dig at the old lights.
“We’re probably the worst in the competition as far as form goes. We’ve lost our past three – and by huge margins.”
The good news for the Bombers is they get back some handy players in rover Matt O’Brien, goalsneak Nathan Sullivan, on-baller Ben Ranger on top of the elevation of 16-year-old half-forward Dean Martin.
And the Bombers have decided to blood 15-year-old half-back Bradey Rykers.
There is a good form line for the Blues and the Bombers through Surfers Paradise.
Coolangatta were only just beaten by the Demons recently. In contrast the Bombers lost by plenty.
