MATCH OF THE ROUND
Western Magpies vs. Labrador
Saturday July 16, 2:00pm, Chelmer
LIVE BLOG FROM 1:45PM
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most in-form of them all?
I think we are about to find out.
They might not sit one and two on the ladder, but the form guide over the last month says that these two teams are as dangerous as anyone. We are in for a Saturday afternoon treat.
They both have exception midfields, and elite forward lines.
Baxter is missing for the Tigers, but they still have Retzlaff and Goldsmith leading up at the footy, and Featherstone at their feet causing headaches.
Then you look up the other end.
There is no Dickfos, but Pope and Staker will be standing in the one spot. The stuff backlines have nightmares about.
Usually Bantoft would shut one of them down, but he is still on the sidelines.
That leaves Mills and Young to do the job.
While the forward lines are intimidating, the game breaker will be their pressure.
They both love to hunt in packs, outnumber the contest, and be as physically imposing as possible… so it’s going to be a dogfight in the middle.
It’s going to be a scrappy start, there won’t be any time or space to move, so it’s going to come down to who can settle the quickest, and who can sure things up on the outside.
Without the two B’s, in Baxter and Bantoft, I think the Magpies win this one, but only just.
Where it will be won: tempo footy
Morningside vs. Surfers Paradise
Saturday July 16, 2:00pm, Jack Esplen Oval
Speaking of form lines, this one doesn’t look pretty for the Panthers.
The last two weeks have been both been 10 goal blowouts, they haven’t found the cohesion they need when missing a few big names.
Having said that, if there is an example of a team turning it around pretty quickly and getting back on track, it’s Surfers.
They had their most important win of the season to date last week when they knocked off Palm Beach at home.
Two weeks before that, the wheels were almost falling off.
Surfers need to attack Morningside’s stoppage work this week. It’s where they have been found out in the last two games.
Morningside need to get their hands on the footy first, but also need to make sure they move the ball quickly, and keep it away from the Demons numbers.
After a best on ground performance last week, Brad Dale has earned a NEAFL debut with Aspley this week. Buntain comes back in after missing a week, and will go straight to Dan Green you would think.
Nash is also back, which will strengthen the middle. Co-captain Kent Abey has been named as an emergency, but I can’t see him not playing.
Moffa and Filewood will be back in red and blue this week, after playing for Southport last week, but Pope looks set to miss another week.
If Surfers can run in waves, this could get ugly. It already has once before this year.
Where it will be won: the link up work.
Broadbeach vs. Wilston Grange
Saturday July 16, 2:00pm, Ord Minnett Oval
Who the hell knows what to expect in this one.
Both are young, both have played some good footy this year, both have played some average footy this year, and both are forced to make changes every week in the line up.
It’s a recipe for disaster in terms of tipping.
What we do know is that both these teams like to play a similar brand of footy.
It’s a nice mixture of contested work, and outside run. When they have won games this year, they have torched their opposition on the outside after winning the 50/50 ball.
Without winning, Broadbeach were good last week. They took it right to Mt Gravatt for most of that game.
They need to finish off in front of the sticks though. They can’t keep shooting themselves in the foot.
Grange loses McIvor and Foster to injury, and is still without their skipper Brittain, which is a disaster for their midfield. That immediately puts them on the back foot.
Broadbeach need to capitalise on that.
In terms of matchups, Quick will most likely go to Trewhella, who took the points last time they played, Royes will go to Williams, and Eaton will play on Strong.
But it’s not going to be one or two battles that win this. It’s about the collective this week.
With those outs, and having to travel down the highway, the Cats should get the job done in this one.
Where it will be one: in the middle
Sandgate vs. Palm Beach Currumbin
Saturday July 16, 2:00pm, Lemke Road
The carrot has been dangled; both teams have the opportunity to make a statement this week.
For the Hawks, they were close against one of the best teams in the comp last week, now is their chance to take a scalp.
For the Lions, they were a bit off last week; they have the opportunity to put the QAFL world back on notice if they get back to their best.
The key for the Lions will be using their foot skills. On the wide deck that is Lemke Road, if they can get the ball pinging around, they will kick a huge score.
For the Hawks, we know they will be as tough as anyone over the ball, but it’s about efficiency.
They will win the ball, no doubt about it, they will have their opportunities, but they have to convert.
Stackelberg got the NEAFL recall after his seven goals, so they need to find another avenue.
Fabian is one option, Liam Rutledge another, but they will have Emblem and Lys all over them.
Up the other end, Jackson and Hunt will have big jobs in Douglas and Croad when he is down there.
It won’t be a game the Lions take lightly by any stretch of the imagination, but I can’t see the Lions dropping two in a row.
Where it will be won: who takes opportunities
UQ vs. Mt Gravatt
Saturday July 16, 2:00pm, Field 9, St Lucia
I hope both of these teams are packing their skates, because this will be lightning quick.
In fact, both teams game plans will to catch ‘em all.
They key to both UQ and Mt Gravatt chalking up wins last week was their ability to get their running game going… it’s their bread and butter.
Expect the same this week.
It’s a very important week for the Vultures, and they know that. Depending on results, they could go as high as second on the ladder, or as low as sixth, it’s that close.
Smith back in the ruck, along with Niland-Rowe, Godfrey and Walsh from Redland really bolster the line up.
For UQ, last week was a reminder of what they are capable of.
It was the performance they had promised for a while, but that has to be the standard now… they can’t slip back into old habits.
Tagell and Ballenden will once against be vitally important targets going forward, most likely contending with Tronc and Hart in the Vultures defence.
Mt Gravatt will look at the on ball brigade as an area they can get on top of.
With the Hamill brothers in good form, Carbone getting a game under his belt last week, and Nash crashing through, it’s an element that’s going to be hard to stop.
Macanawai, McCutchen and Curtis have a big job ahead of them.
If UQ’s back six can win the footy though, and pull the trigger, they will be up and about.
Where it will be won: who is quicker.
150-year fact – Queensland Football Forensics
www.q150.net.au
Steve Taylor kicked 100 goals for Wilston-Grange each season from 1969 to 1972, a period which featured two premierships. A state representative, Taylor was relatively short for a full forward, but was a terrific high mark
and a very accurate kick using the torpedo punt. Many official records show that he kicked a total of 589 goals in his career, the correct figure in fact being 489. He sadly passed away in 1995 after an illness.
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
