MT GRAVATT V BROADBEACH
Mt Gravatt will be looking to prove its upset over Palm Beach was no fluke, when they face Broadbeach tomorrow.
A win against the Cats would give the Vultures a gap on some fringe finals contenders and put them in the box seat for fifth spot.
Two hard running sides, Mt Gravatt coach, Brad Pollock, said he was expecting a spectator-friendly match of footy tomorrow.
“I’m sure there’ll be some attractive footy,” he said.
“We don’t want to give them the opportunity to open us up though.”
“We’ve been focusing equally on our defensive game and we’re keen to shut them down.”
The Vultures have included Redland-listed Rhys Estall in the side for the first time, with the small forward available due to the NEAFL representative bye, but lose Jesse Green for the match.
Broadbeach have their fair share of outs too, with Nathan Manczal, Eddie Burton (foot) and Adam Hall out, replaced by Dan Skrinis and James McNamara among the inclusions.
Cats coach, Wayne Petterd, said his team would be prepared for an improved Mt Gravatt side tomorrow.
“We probably caught them short of a couple of gallops in round one,” he said.
”Since then they’ve been really good and now they’re one of the form sides of the competition.”
Petterd said their similar styles of play would make for an intense contest at Dittmer Park.
“It’ll match up well and the winner will come from who can control the ball best,”he said.
“If you can control the ball and stay composed, then the result will take care of itself.”
MORNINGSIDE V LABRADOR
Labrador will have to overcome yet another week of forced changes ahead of their rematch with Morningside tomorrow.
The Tigers have made 10 changes through unavailability or injury this weekend, headlined by captain, Ryan Davey.
Southport’s Adam Clarke will come into the side, but the Tigers will have 13 different faces from their round one loss to the Panthers.
Labrador coach, Steve Daniel, admitted the changes would hurt the team, but maintained an optimistic outlook.
“I always try to be upbeat and positive about everything,” he said.
“We’ve got four blokes playing their first game, so that’s exciting and I’d like to think they’ll come up well.”
“We’d like to think we can meet every challenge head on and see how we go.”
Morningisde coach, David Lake, said Labrador would be a tough opposition, regardless of the changes.
“We crave the opportunity to play these kinds of sides,” he said.
“Regardless of whatever injuries they have, it’ll be a good, hard contest.
“They’ll pick their best side.”
First choice ruckman Peter Mollison, on baller Lachlan Russ, forward, Rhys Power and Queensland U18 representative, Matt Hammelmann, are all unavailable for the match, replaced by Bill Pendlebury, Callum Kinch and Cameron Burnside.
Undefeated after nine rounds, Lake said the game loomed as a finals dress rehearsal.
“We’re on the way down the hill now, with none games to go,” he said.
“We need to make sure we deliver the brand of footy we want.”
UQ V SANDGATE
There is no magic solution for UQ to break their 2014 duck against Sandgate, coach Matt Stewart says.
Coming off a competitive showing against Wilston Grange last weekend, the Red Lions are feeling positive, but Stewart said a win won’t be conjured easily tomorrow.
“The guys have had the belief for a long time that they weren’t far away (from a win),” he said.
“They believe it now and they’ve just got to play four quarters.”
“There’s nothing magic about it, we just need to make sure we don’t go to sleep and we’ve reiterated that to them this week.”
UQ will welcome Aspley-listed pair, Cain Tickner and George Hannaford, back into their side this week, while U18 player, Dylan Adkins, plays his second match.
For the Hawks, a win on Saturday is crucial for their morale, after a string of near misses, coach Rob Dickfos said.
“It’s extremely important we try and get some reward,” he said.
“It’s hard to get the boys up all the time and not get that reward.
Sandgate will go into the match as warm favourites, but Dickfos said his players couldn’t get ahead of themselves.
“This is the game that we should be the closest to winning,” he said.
“They can’t get carried away with the thought of ‘we should win this’.
“We should continue doing what we’re doing and working hard to get the ball.”
Aspley’s Michael Hutchinson will be a handy addition to Sandgate’s back line this weekend.
SURFERS PARADISE V PALM BEACH
Surfers’ mid-season form will be heavily tested as they face Palm Beach for the second time this season.
In their opening 2014 clash, the Lions accounted for the Demons comfortably, but some key additions, including the regular inclusion of Ben Merrett, has made Surfers Paradise a far greater threat.
Demons coach, Beau Zorko, said this weekend would unequivocally show them where they’ve come since that match.
“Win, lose, or draw, the last thing I want is an unclear indication of where we’re at,” he said.
Zorko admitted it wouldn’t be an easy task taking on the Lions, who will be seething after a surprise loss to Mt Gravatt last weekend.
“We’re certainly expecting them to come out with a bang early, to be ferocious in their attack on the ball and the player,” he said.
“Good sides don’t lose two games in a row.”
Palm Beach has named Tim Fielding to come back from a calf injury, along with a handful of Southport-listed players, including Stephen Thynne and Tyler Cornish.
Zac Denham comes into the side for the first time this season. while Sam Kitchin returns to the team after a month out with injury.
A win for Palm Beach would keep them in the race for a top two spot, and potentially award them some breathing space of the mid-table logjam, with only two wins separating the Lions in third from the Magpies in seventh.
WESTERN MAGPIES V WILSTON GRANGE
It was a tough, physical encounter when these Wilston Grange and the Western Magpies clashed in round one, and both teams are ready for round two, at Chelmer tomorrow.
Wilston Grange has had to make six changes from the team that snapped its five-game losing streak against UQ last weekend, with Dan Campbell (shoulder), Ben Haire, Dave Kettle, Steve Brittain and Queensland U18 players, Jacob Watson and Harris Andrews, all to miss.
Gorillas coach, Matt Trewhella said they could take plenty of positives into the game, after last week’s win.
“Where we are on the ladder you can’t rely on winning to create momentum, it needs to come from playing as a team,” he said.
“That’s what we’ll be using for momentum this weekend.”
Former Mt Gravatt and Western Magpies player, Greg Lavey will play his first game in Gorillas colours, while Zac O’Callaghan is lining up for his senior game.
The Magpies have also been hit with a swathe of changes for the game, with Doug Lawrence and Billy Moorhead (quad) out.
Young forward, Tom Michael, will return to the side this week, giving the Magpies a greater focal point up forward, while Jack Goodall plays his first senior game, after coming back from an ankle injury via the reserves and Peter Kilroy also comes in.
Magpies coach, Glenn Humphrey, said the game would be a good litmus test.
“It’s obviously going to be a good measure of where we’re at as compared to playing them in the first round,” he said.
“We’re focused on our stoppage work and our use of the football by foot.”
QAFL TIPS
Michael Conlan – AFLQ CEO (21)
Morningside
Palm Beach
Mt Gravatt
Sandgate
Western Magpies
Lisa McKoy – AFLQ Media Manager (27)
Morningside
Palm Beach
Mt Gravatt
Sandgate
Western Magpies
Simon Devine – AFLQ Competition Manager (29)
Morningside
Surfers Paradise
Broadbeach
UQ
Western Magpies
Breeanna Brock – AFLQ Female Programs Manager (27)
Jack Barry – AFLQ State Coaching, Volunteer & Affiliates Manager (30)
Morningside
Palm Beach
Mt Gravatt
Sandgate
Western Magpies
Craig Millar – AFLQ Football Operations Manager (29)
Morningside
Palm Beach
Mt Gravatt
Sandgate
Western Magpies
Beth Newman – AFLQ Community Football Writer (33)
Morningside
Palm Beach
Broadbeach
Sandgate
Western Magpies
